The Associated Press
8/22/03 9:11 AM

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) -- A panhandler chased a woman who refused to give him money and stabbed her six times in a supermarket parking lot before a driver used his vehicle to knock the man off a bicycle as he tried to leave, police said.

Mark Adrian Tyler, 26, of Springfield, asked the woman for $5 while she sat in her car outside the supermarket Thursday, Springfield police Detective Dan DeWine said.

"She said, 'No, I work for my money,"' DeWine said.

Tyler stabbed Tammy Rollins, 41, of Springfield, through the car window, DeWine said. Rollins opened her car door and attempted to run.

Tyler continued stabbing at her with a 6-inch kitchen knife, police said. She stumbled into the supermarket and collapsed.

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Rollins was in fair condition at Community Hospital. She received wounds on both arms and her back, puncturing a lung.

Eric Higgenbotham, 34, said he drove onto the lot and saw the attack.

"She was bloody from head to toe when I got there," he said.

When Tyler saw Higgenbotham, he got on a bicycle and tried to ride away. Higgenbotham drove his vehicle into Tyler.

Click here to read the AP story.

OFCC Commentary:
Yet again, OSHP Capt. John Born's citizens-can-just-"drive off"-when-attacked-in-their-cars advice has failed to save an Ohioan from serious injury.

Notice that an armed citizen (this time, armed with a motor vehicle) apprehended the criminal and held him for police.

No one has ever said that concealed carry reform legislation could stamp out all crime. Unfortunately, innocent people will still be attacked (albeit fewer of them, as proved across the country). Like the framers of our state Constitution, we want Ohioans to have the choice of how they want to deal with that reality.

OFCC is pro-choice when it comes to personal protection/ self-defense. We think those who want to defend themselves instead of waiting fifteen minutes for the police should have that choice. We think they should have the right to do what they want when it comes to protecting their own bodies. Read Article 1, Sec. 4 if you have any questions.

FLASHBACK: April 29, 2003, Gongwer News Service

Senate President Doug White (R-Manchester) said his chamber will not be
looking for guidance from Governor Bob Taft as it begins consideration of a measure (HB 12) authorizing, in most respects, carrying concealed weapons.
Rather, he said it will approve the version it deems most appropriate and let Mr. Taft determine whether it should be vetoed.

On the concealed weapons issue, Senator White said he expects the Senate to
deal with the bill - scheduled for sponsor testimony on Wednesday - expeditiously. "We'll do what we have to do" to get it out of the Senate, he
said. "Our focus is not now with the governor." Without identifying the
provisions, Senator White noted that his caucus doesn't need all the language it sought on last session's version of the bill, which died in the Senate.

TODAY: Senator White's words have proven to be far different from his deeds, when it comes to amending HB12. In a secretive, 11th hour rush-job, the bill was packed with restrictive language no anti-self-defense Senator was even requesting. Who was requesting these amendments? Gov. Taft.

The Ohio General Assembly is scheduled to return to session in September, but the schedule for the remainder of 2003 will be somewhat limited.

Sen. White can still act as a leader, appoint conferees to a committee that would modify the bill into an acceptable form and send it to Gov. Taft's desk. This is what the Sen. White who spoke in April would do. Exactly who are we dealing with in September remains to be seen.

There is still time to log your vote: Would the Gen. Assembly's failure to pass CCW in '03 effect your vote in '04??

Click on the "Read More..." link below for the fall session schedule.

Toledo Blade
August 22, 2003

Toledo police auto squad detectives have seen an increase in thefts of vehicles throughout the city the last few weeks.

A few juveniles were arrested after they were found in some of the stolen vehicles. The detective said juveniles may be taking the vehicles for joyrides, going until the vehicles run out of gas or they find another car to take.

"It’s appalling that in the year 2003 a 12-year-old can steal a car," said Neal Wisner, senior special agent with the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

OFCC PAC Commentary:
Since 12 year-old can steal a car these days, why did the Senate add even more victim zone exclusions to HB12, ensuring that more firearms will be left in vehicles to be stolen?

According to FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, 1 in every 99 vehicles are stolen in Toledo; 1 in every 93 are stolen in Columbus; 1 in every 53 are stolen in Cleveland, and Dayton tops the list of Ohio cities - 1 in every 47 vehicles stolen.

From purse-snatching operations in Cincinnati and Columbus, to burglaries, vandalism and car theft in movie theatre and mall parking lots, it is obvious that Gahanna Police Chief Murphy was right when he told Senators that the safest place for a CCW-licenseholder's firearm is on the hip of it's owner.

Upon returning to Columbus next month, Senator Doug White should appoint a conference committee, which could then remove the dangerous new "victim zones" from Am. Sub. HB12.

Click here to read the entire story in the Toledo Blade.

Related Stories:
Toledo robberies prove again why ''victim zone'' exclusions are a very bad idea