Despite having experienced another series of devastating losses on Election Day 2004, the early signs suggest gun ban extremists are no closer to understanding what a loser issue they are pushing, nor how Americans have risen above cheap fear-based "studies" that warp statistics into "proving" a point they set out to prove.

Consider the following headlines from the Brady Campaign/ Million Mom March's Jointogether.org website:

Gun Grabber "News" Headline #1: Report Says Nonpowder Guns Injure 21,000 Annually

Nonpowder guns that fire BBs, pellets, and paintballs cause 21,000 injuries annually in the U.S., according to an article in the November issue of Pediatrics. Four percent of the injuries from nonpowder guns result in hospitalization. In addition, high-powered air rifles...have caused several deaths per year. Between 1990 and 2000, there were 39 such deaths, 32 of them involving children younger than 15.

For a bit of perspective, it may be helpful to learn that the CDC reports that nearly one million people are given medical treatment for dog bites each year (400,000 are children!). Also according to the CDC, nearly as many children were killed by Fido every two years during the 90's as were killed in the entire decade with air rifles.

About 3.2 million nonpowder guns are sold annually in the U.S., many of them in toy stores. However, "(n)onpowder guns are weapons...and should never be characterized as toys," Dr. Laraque concluded.

Neither, apparently, should dogs be classified as pets.

And speaking of dogs and guns, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported this week that a pit bull attacked and injured three people, including two children, before being shot several times by a police officer.

Gun Grabber "News" Headline #2:
Guns in Home Increase Danger to Occupants, Survey Finds

Having guns in the home increases occupants' chances of being killed or injured by firearms, according to the Nov. 15 issue of the Journal of American Epidemiology. The survey found that persons with guns in the home were more likely to die from gun homicides in the home...

This is actually a rehash of a concept introduced in a survey several years ago which "found" that people who have guns in their home are 40 times more likely to be shot. The study was thoroughly debunked after it was learned that to create the numbers, gun grabbers had included criminal on criminal shootings, crimes in which criminals carried guns into the homes where the shootings occurred, etc.

We are still waiting for the headlines announcing the "news" that people who own, ride in or operate automobiles are more likely to be killed in collisions, or that people who pilot or ride in airplanes are more likely to be killed in airplane crashes than people who don't fly.

Gun Grabber "News" Headline #3: No Mandate for Gun Extremism

Last week's elections may have led to victory for more conservatives, but on gun issues, an analysis of the results shows a trend towards greater support for sensible gun laws...

Someone better tell that to John Kerry, John Edwards, and Tom Dascle, to name three...

And someone had better tell Nicholas D. Kristof, a New York Times liberal who writes that "gun control is dead" as a result of the 2004 elections, and outlines yet another strategy for how gun grabbers can hide their agenda in the NEXT election cycle.

Click on the "Read More..." link below to read the Kristof op-ed.

Please consider the following messages from organizations who have been extremely supportive of self-defense rights in Ohio.

Solicitations for sheriffs' association disavowed

A national non-profit organization claims it supports your local
sheriff, but the Clermont County sheriff disagrees.

Sheriff A.J. "Tim" Rodenberg is cautioning residents against donating to a
national sheriffs' association that's been making recent telephone
solicitations. He says the association has not shown financial support to
Ohio counties.

"We haven't ever received a penny from this organization, and I know of no
sheriffs' offices who have," Rodenberg said, referring to the
Louisiana-based American Deputy Sheriffs' Association.

Rodenberg said some Clermont County residents have contacted the sheriff's office recently and asked about the charity's legitimacy.

"If you want your donation to remain local and benefit law enforcement in your community, contact your local law enforcement agency to see how to make a donation directly to them without going through a third party," said Detective Monte Mayer, spokesman for the Butler County Sheriff's Office.

Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association director Bob Cornwell said, "I've never seen a penny [ from the outside organization] go to any sheriff in this whole state."

-----------------------------

OHIO NRA MEMBERS: SUPPORT YOUR NRA FOUNDATION!

URGE YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT HB 121

The 2003-2004 Regular Session of the Ohio Legislature is quickly coming to a close. House Bill 121, introduced by Rep. Tim Schaffer (R-5), is still before the House Transportation Committee.

This important piece of legislation would create a specialized motor vehicle license plate for supporters of the National Rifle Association. The specialized tags will cost $25, with $15 of that total being deposited into the NRA Foundation State Fund Account for Ohio. The fund will be used for Foundation-related projects such as youth hunter education, firearms safety training and shooting range development. All money raised from the purchase of these plates will stay in Ohio for activities and programs!

However, time is running out. This bill may be voted on before the end of the year, so it is important for you to contact your State Representatives and Senator urging support for HB 121. You can find contact information for your Legislator by using the "Write your Representative" feature at www.nraila.org.

Headed to work: Assault, robbery reported on Maple Avenue
November 10, 2004, Sandusky:

A Central Avenue man told police he was jumped by two or more men early
Tuesday morning while he was walking to work.

The man, from the 800 block of Central Ave., told Sandusky police he was
walking to work shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday near the 1000 block of
Maple Ave. when two or three men grabbed him from behind and threw him
to the ground.

Police said the man was struck several times by the subjects, and at one
point was turned over and punched in the jaw by one man. After regaining
consciousness, the man walked to Firelands Regional Medical Center and
called police.

------------------

Email from concerned Ohio CHL-holder

To: OFCC
From: David V.
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:47:44 –0500
Subject: anti-CCW sign

I went to the Sunoco on the corner of Byrne and Glendale in Toledo today to get gas, and noticed a LARGE sign proclaiming that I cannot carry concealed firearms on the premisis.

I asked the manager why they put the sign up. She said that they put the sign up because they did not want to get robbed. I told them that criminals would view the sign as a "unarmed victim zone", since criminals operate without fear of consequenses.

Sunoco does not discriminate in Michigan but if they are going to discriminate in Ohio I am not shopping or buying gas there.

David V.

------------------

align="right">
Whirlpool Corp. sues to block new Oklahoma CHL-holder parking lot exemption

Whirlpool Corp. has sued to block a new law that allows employees to
keep guns in their locked vehicles on workplace parking lots. The law
was scheduled to take effect Nov. 1, according to the Associated Press,
but a federal judge blocked it. Only Kentucky has a similar law.

"This is a standard company rule that's intended to protect employees ... and to minimize the risk of any incident occurring," Whirlpool said in a statement to FOX News.

State Rep. Jerry Ellis, a Democrat, believes that keeping guns off employer property won't prevent workplace violence.

"People that are going to do violence in the workplace ... it doesn't make any difference how many laws that you have on the books. They have no respect for the law and they're going to do it anyway," Ellis told FOX News.

Oklahoma's heavily Republican legislature and Democratic Gov. Brad Henry overwhelmingly support the law, which was drafted after 12 workers who were found to have stored guns in their parked cars on company property were fired. Those 12 are now suing.

(Click here to let Whirlpool know what you think of their efforts.)

------------------

For a look back at attempts by OFCC to protect Ohio workers' right to self-defense while traveling to and from work, click on the "Read More..." link below.

As the following stories prove, no one leaves home expecting to be attacked, and no CHL-holder should plan to carry only when going into an area they deem to be high risk.

Newark man injured in attack
Nov. 7, 2004 - Heath:

A Newark man is recovering in a Columbus hospital after an attack Friday night that left him with a fractured skull and broken nose.

The 26-year-old was approached by two unidentified men in front of the Giant Eagle in Heath. They asked him for a cigarette, the victim said he didn't have one and was then attacked, Heath police stated.

Carjacking: Man Shot While Pumping Gas
Nov. 8, 2004 - Dayton:

A man was shot while filling up at a local gas station. The shooter then hopped in the victim's car and drove off. The man was shot in the arm and police believe he will survive. Police said the call came in at 1:37 p.m. A man was pumping gas at a station along Gettysburg. Witnesses said someone tried to steal his car, firing shots at the owner.

He was hit and ran across the street to a fast-food restaurant. "They had blown a hole in the back of his arm probably with a .357 or something. He had gotten carjacked over at the gas station by some boys," said one witness.

School "safety" zone shooting
Nov. 12, 2004 - Fairborn:

A Central State University junior fired an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle at a former girlfriend's head after abducting her from a friend's car about 4 a.m. Friday, Fairborn police said.

Sidney Arnel Banks Jr., 20 of Fairborn appeared in Municipal Court on abduction, felonious assault and discharging a weapon in a school safety zone charges.

Fairborn detective Steve Jahns said Banks tail-gated the car the 20-year-old Fairborn woman — a CSU sophomore — was riding in with a male friend taking her home from a bar. The driver told police he pulled over to find out why he was being followed, Jahns said.

Banks walked up to his vehicle and said, "So it's gonna be like this," police reports said. He retrieved the weapon from his car, returned and pointed the weapon at the driver, according to police.

"He pulled the trigger," Jahns said, adding it was unclear if the gun was loaded or if it misfired. "It's a high-powered weapon. It has the ability to do a lot of damage," he said.

According to police, Banks then pointed the rifle at the woman and told her to get in the back seat of his car. They drove to a Fairborn High School parking lot on Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, then got out of the car and argued, police said. He got the rifle from his car and fired it at the woman's head, but missed, police said.

Search for garbage man turns to robbery
Nov. 14, 2004 - Sandusky:

An elderly man was robbed Saturday while sitting in his 1992 Ford Aerostar.

Emory Fox, 77, of the 900 block of Woodlawn Ave. described the robber as
a stocky-built black male, between the ages of 25-30, with a height
between 5 feet 5 inches and five feet 10 inches and no facial hair,
according to police records.

According to police, Fox was in the neighborhood looking for a specific
garbage hauler when he approached the suspect, asking him if he knew the
garbageman. The suspect said he did and directed Fox to a house in the
700 block of Curran St. The suspect knocked on the door, then returned,
threatening Fox with a gun and demanding his checkbook and wallet.

A struggle ensued, but the suspect overpowered Fox, according to police.

align="center">