JEREMY HOLDEN
Daily Reporter Staff Writer
07/14/2003

Judging by a Columbus Daily Reporter study of Supreme Court of Ohio decisions issued in the first half of the calendar year, unanimity could be the catchphrase to mark the current court's makeup.

A look at 71 of the decisions issued since the court added Associate Justice Maureen O'Connor to the bench in January showed 44 unanimous decisions, and 14 rulings in which only one justice strayed from the super majority.

On closer decisions, no clear alliances have formed yet between the new members of the court. In 13 decisions with more than one dissenter, Justice Pfeiffer was most likely to be part of the minority, voting against the majority seven times with at least one colleague. All told, Pfeiffer disagreed with the majority 13 times, dissenting in 18 percent of the decisions studied.

One of the more anticipated decisions remains to be decided, as the court has yet to rule on the constitutionality of Cincinnati's efforts to ban concealed handguns. While lawmakers work to placate gun owners and Gov. Bob Taft, in drafting legislation that would allow Ohioans to carry concealed handguns, the court heard arguments earlier this year regarding the merits of existing laws banning concealed handguns.

Click here to read the entire story in the Columbus Daily Reporter.

July 14, 2003
Akron Beacon-Journal

Gov. Bob Taft felt compelled to write a major Ohio newspaper setting the record straight as to his position on the concealed-carry issue (``Taft: Gun bill must meet test,'' Beacon Journal, June 25). A few of his statements follow:

• "I have been a strong supporter of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the rights it grants.''

Observation: Then why doesn't he honor, protect and defend it as promised when he took the oath of office? Defending with a gun is a right, not a privilege to be extended by a governor.

• "I am proud to have received support from state troopers, the Fraternal Order of Police and many local police groups in my statewide campaigns.''

Observation: Proud that this minuscule segment of Ohio's population (law enforcement) is so in agreement with his stance that it's willing to put the majority of Ohio's population at risk by depriving them of the right to defend themselves with a gun -- a right allowed by governors of 44 other states.

• "The Senate bill requires that firearms be locked away when a child is in the vehicle.''

Observation: Thus leaving both driver and child vulnerable to attempted carjacking or kidnapping.

• "(It) increases safety of law enforcement by notifying them through the Law Enforcement Automated Data System when a vehicle belongs to a concealed-carry permit holder.''

Observation: A back-door attempt at total registration, a sneaky precursor to eventual confiscation of all firearms.

• "My position has been clear since 1997... and it is not negotiable.''

Observation: What an unseemly position against his constituency. If you agree, write, e-mail or phone him.

John J. Myers
Medina

Click here to read the letter in the Akron Beacon Journal.

Sunday, July 13, 2003

I respond to Dispatch Senior Editor Joe Hallett’s contention that the " ‘Liberal’ label merits respect, not obloquy" (Forum column, June 29). Hallett wrote that he’s tired "of being called a liberal idiot for opposing concealed-carry legislation and supporting a ban on assault weapons" and "of being castigated as a tax-and-spend liberal for questioning the wisdom of huge federal tax cuts" while stating his belief that he’s a "common-sense centrist."

Not quite. Hallett wants to have his cake and eat it, too. And based on his own statements, he wants to eat my cake, too. While he may imagine that supporting gun control and opposing concealed-carry legislation makes him a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, real common sense says otherwise.

There’s a reason why people call Hallett a liberal for advocating gun control and supporting spending . He is one.

MATTHEW GAYLOR
Columbus

Click here to read the letter in the Columbus Dispatch.

Click here to read yet another lengthy diatribe against the merits of concealed carry reform and those who support it, published in the Columbus Dispatch on Saturday, July 12.

The Zanesville Times Recorder has published a letter to the editor about concealed carry from Dresden resident William Ripple. Below are a couple of favorite exerpts:

Exerpt #1:

I have gone from a middle-aged man to an old man trying to get a decent concealed carry law in Ohio.

Exerpt #2:

...A copout that will allow the governor and the police to get a law that will make concealed carry so expensive, in both time and money, that few will go to the bother. If the F.O.P. and the highway patrol get their way, the Constitution does not apply in your vehicle, bar, filling station, bank, church, daycare, etc.

Click here to read the full letter in the Zanesville Times Recorder.