County on pace to hit six-year high

If the number of permits issued in the second half of this year keeps pace with the first half, the Grant County, IN will hit a six-year high for permits issued.

"I'm not sure why, all of the sudden, there's a jump. Maybe people need some security because of the economy and the way things are in the world today," said Marion Police detective Sgt. Stephen Dorsey. "The economy's bad, things are down, we've had a number of robberies that have been publicized and maybe people need some sense of security."

That's why Randy Southerland said he bought a handgun.

"I had seven people in two and a half months coming at my back doors at 2 and 3 in the morning. I have a fenced yard, and they have no business in my yard," said Southerland, who lives in Central Marion. The area also has seen an increase in crime this year.

"The crime statistics aren't going down anytime soon, especially with the economy. It's going to go up. And with what has taken place this year. ... that concerns a lot of people," said Grant County Sheriff's Capt. Darrell Himelick.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

Two years after new law, still no 'Wild West'

Murder rates, shootings and crimes expected by some to rise once Michigan liberalized its concealed weapons law two years ago haven't happened.

Since the state began to allow more people to carry concealed firearms, only two St. Clair County residents have had their permits revoked for violations, officials said.

The state won't release its 2002-03 figures on concealed weapon permits until later this month, but by June 2002 more than 51,000 had been issued.

Locally, 2,581 permits have been issued since the law took effect, St. Clair County Clerk Marilyn Dunn said.

Gunsmith Dan Easterling, a firearms instructor from St. Clair, said the fervor over the permits has died down.

Fears about crimes being committed by gun-toting residents with new concealed weapons permits has not been realized, Easterling said.

"No one's been shooting anybody, and no one's been shot by anyone with a permit. People are much better trained," he said.

Click here to read the entire story from the Port Huron (MI) Times Herald.

The Winona school board will allow district employees to have guns on school property in accordance with Minnesota's revised "conceal and carry" law. The board's 5-1 vote on Thursday concluded a discussion that has lasted much of the summer concerning how to adapt Winona Area Public Schools' weapons policy to the law approved by the state during the last Legislative session, which allows qualified applicants to carry firearms.

Meanwhile in Ohio, a few politicians and bureaucrats are keeping Ohio's citizens in the defenseless dark ages...

Click here to read the entire story from the Winona Daily News.

Legislative leaders willing to convene to consider a veto DO exist - in Missouri.

The Missouri House will convene on Wednesday, Sept. 10th at 10:00 a.m. They will vote to override their Gov. The Senate will vote sometime between 10 and 4 the following day, with the outcome in that body a bit more in question.

To override a governor's veto, a bill needs 23 votes in the Senate. On the concealed-weapons bill, 22 of the 23 Senators who originally voted for it will almost certainly vote to override the governor's veto this week (the pro-CCW majority will loose one vote to a Democrat whose original support was only for procedural reasons).

But the pro-gun forces also have a chance to pick up a vote. Majority floor leader Michael Gibbons of Kirkwood voted against the bill but as a member of his party’s leadership will face heavy pressure to switch his vote. The chamber’s leader, Sen. Peter Kinder, has predicted Gibbons will support the bill.

In 1998, when the Legislature authorized a statewide vote on the concealed weapons issue, Gibbons voted "yes." He said he supported the idea of another public vote on the issue, but during this year's debate, no referendum was attached to the bill. Now Gibbons said he was studying the issue.

"I'm trying to look and see what the facts are and intend to make my decision based on what those facts are," Gibbons said.

If Gibbons decides to vote to override, CCW supporters are back to 23 votes. But there’s another monkey wrench. One senator who voted for the bill is Jon Dolan, R-Lake St. Louis, a public affairs officer in the National Guard who recently was called to duty in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

His vote could be crucial, but it’s not clear whether Dolan will be able to attend the veto session. In a voice mail message on Wednesday, the senator said he is "doing all I can" to return. "We will give it a try, but right now I have no idea," he said, "and the first priority for me right now has to be my troops’ welfare and my mission, and I’m right in the middle of it."

In his veto message, Democrat Gov. Holden said the bill was less restrictive and required less training than the measure the people defeated. Holden also criticized a provision that makes secret the identity of those with permits to carry concealed guns.

Supporters have said Holden's veto message "was a pack of misrepresentations and lies."

"The Senate should vote to overturn the veto as a way of saying they do not approve of being lied to. Otherwise, they are just going to encourage that kind of conduct."

OFCC PAC Commentary:
The only reason we are not reading these headlines in Ohio is because Ohio's legislature and governor's office are controlled by Republicans. Ohio's Senate leaders are putting politics (not wishing to override a Republican Governor's veto) above the Constitution, public safety, and the protection of innocent citizens. This simply should not be.

Complete coverage:
Columbia (MO) Daily News

St. Louis (MO) Post-Dispatch

The Ohio University Second Amendment Club and Ohioans For Concealed Carry are pleased to announce that John Lott, economist and author, will be speaking on that university campus this month, in an event that is open to the public.

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Lott's appearance is part of the OU Second Amendment Club's effort to raise awareness about the falsehoods and misrepresentations associated with Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine movie, which is being shown on campus television throughout the month of September.

Dr. Lott is expected to have much to say about the CCW fight in Ohio, and about the Senate's Taft-sponsored amendments, which the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association and Fraternal Order of Police believe are unsafe. Some Ohio legislators are expected to be in attendance.

Details as follows:

Date: September 22nd
Location: Baker Center - 1804 Lounge, Ohio University, Athens, OH
Time: 6:00 p.m.

OFCC members and supporters are encouraged to attend!