For those of you who are new to this website, a brief Election Season history is in order:

A little over one year ago, several OFCC members formed the OFCC Political Action Committee (www.buckeyefirearms.org). Time was critical - there were only 60 days before the November 2002 elections. We told potential supporters that the time was ripe to make a difference, and to reinforce the General Assembly and Supreme Court with candidates who supported your right to self-defense.

In the weeks that followed, we were attacked by another Ohio "pro-gun" political action committee. We were accused of sending a "sleazy attack" letter about them months before we even existed. We were called "anti-gun" because we supported passage of HB274. We were ridiculed for our endorsement of Lt. Gov. Maureen O'Connor for Ohio Supreme Court. They said we were "total amateurs (who have no idea what they are doing".

We stood firm on our endorsement, and with your support, Maureen O'Connor was elected as a Justice. The OFCC PAC was soon proven to have been 100% correct. In 2003, Justice O'Connor authored the blistering dissent to the Ohio Supreme Court's majority opinion, which found Ohio's ban on concealed carry to be constitutional. Our other 2002 endorsee, Justice Evelyn Stratton, joined in the dissent. On the legislative side, Senator Lynn Wachtmann has credited the OFCC PAC with being the key difference in the narrow victory of another Senator that year, who provided several crucial pro-concealed carry votes for HB12 in preparation for its passage.

The OFCC PAC now has a proven record of electing of pro-concealed carry candidates. And, as a direct result, we achieved the victorious passage of Ohio's shall-issue concealed handgun licensure law just weeks ago. Our critics opposed HB12 to the very end. Had they been successful, April 8, 2004 would just be another day in Ohio. Instead, April 8 has become Self-Defense Day - the first day Ohioans can apply for their Concealed Handgun Lincense.

It is now time to support the PAC which commits 100% of its funds to elections, rather than to lining our personal pockets. It is now time to support the PAC which has supported you since 2002, and which has achieved numerous victories. Here is how you can help:

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

January 29, 2004
Deseret News

WASHINGTON — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch says new Justice Department figures support longtime GOP claims that the best way to fight violence with guns is not to outlaw the guns, but to prosecute criminals.

Data released Wednesday showed that as federal prosecution of gun crimes increased 68 percent from three years ago under the Bush administration, violent crimes dropped 21 percent.

"Our law enforcement's tough-on-crime approach parallels what I have always advocated: protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms and and strictly enforce our gun laws," Hatch said.

"Because of the stepped-up prosecutions, there were approximately 130,000 fewer victims of gun crime and over 980,000 fewer violent crimes in 2001-02 than there were in 1999-2000," Hatch said.

"Enacting and vigorously enforcing stiff penalties for those who commit crimes with guns deters violent crime," Hatch added.

Hatch added, "This reduction in gun violence is a direct result of the nationwide implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods. In Utah alone last year, over 400 violent individuals were indicted under federal gun laws."