This carjacker had little way to know his intended victim was actually a plain-clothes police officer. The more armed citizens carjackers and other criminals can expect to encounter in Ohio, the fewer chances they'll take...

February 20, 2004

Cincinnati Enquirer

Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder Of An Officer

Cincinnati Police have charged a North Fairmount man with attempted murder of an officer after a Thursday night shooting.

Officer Patrick Galligan was driving down Liberty Street near John Street in an unmarked Plymouth Neon around 11 p.m. when police say Michael White fired at the car with an automatic pistol.

Police said Galligan was stopped at a red light when Jones, who was standing on the street corner, shot through the windshield of Galligan's car, hitting the dashboard and striking the police radio inside.

Glass particles from the windshield struck Galligan, who then stopped the car and rolled out, firing two shots at White and hitting the suspect once in the foot, police said during a Friday morning news conference.

Both the suspect and the officer were treated at University Hospital, according to Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher.

White, 21, of 2647 Nottingham Court, is a known member of the street gang calling themselves the "Tot Lot Posse," according to police. White has Tot Lot Posse tattoos identifying him as part of the gang which is centered in the West End neighborhood, police said.

White has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer, having weapons while under disability and felonious assault.

"From the looks of the bullet and the trajectory, it certainly appears to us that he intended to strike Officer Galligan," said Streicher.

Related Story:
Akron SWAT trainer foils possible robbery

According to a recent Toledo Blade story, the Ohio Library Council is currently galavanting across the state, recommending that libraries post discriminatory signs banning concealed handgun license (CHL) -holders.

OFCC has learned that bureaucrats at the Cleveland Public Libraries, as well as Lorain Public Libraries, are planning to post signs banning firearms, including those openly carried (others which have already taken a public position on this issue listed below in Related Stories).

Given their members' dependency on voters for the passage of levies, and given a recent Zogby International poll which found that voters overwhelming favor these self-protection laws by a margin of 79% to 18% (with even non-gun owners indicating their backing by 73% to 23%!), we think the OLC might want to reconsider their discriminatory position against CHL-holders.

Just a few of the Ohio library levies coming to vote March 2:
Akron libraries turn to voters for aid

Cleveland libraries seek taxes to keep books in black

Approval of Issue 13 vital to keep Elyria's library from withering

Perrysburg: Library sets meetings about levy request

Dayton residents being asked to support a library levy

Related Stories:
Delphos library board bans firearms

Toledo explores other options for funding "community assets"

Toledo Library board will post signs banning guns

Public officials' rush to ban CHL-holders could be illegal

OFCC supporter GTC submitted the following story to the OFCC website.

On 2/19/04, the local television station (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, Ohio, ran a survey on their 5 o'clock newscast. They wanted to see, if, the viewing public felt the new "concealed weapons law would reduce or have an effect on the crime rate in Greater Cincinnati.

The above survey was run along with an interview of a local firearms trainer (Jack Basham) explaining the CHL training and requirements as he knew them as of today's date.

The viewers were asked to call in to their poll at two different numbers. The results shown on their 11:00 o' clock newscast were the following;

78% - Yes, the law/carry would reduce crime
22% - No, these respondents felt their would not reduce crime.

The survey did not explain how the 22% felt it might affect crime in our area.

February 21, 2004
Cleveland Plain Dealer

Lakewood-Two men searching in a friend's car for change to pay their bar tab were surprised by an off-duty Cuyahoga County sheriff's deputy who thought they were stealing from the car and stuck a loaded gun in their faces, police said.

The deputy also put his gun to the head of the car owner and aimed the weapon at a man talking on a cell phone nearby, apparently for staring, police said.

Lakewood police arrested the deputy, Jamie Bonnette, 29, who was charged with public intoxication, aggravated menacing and using a weapon while intoxicated, all misdemeanors.

Police did not test his blood alcohol level because he was not driving.

Police said Bonnette smelled of alcohol, swayed back and forth and slurred his words.

When asked by police whether he felt he was in any condition to intervene in a crime, he replied, "probably not," but that he believed it was necessary to "take action," according to police.

Bonnette has not been suspended but faces discipline, and possibly firing, said sheriff's inspector Douglas Burkhart.

Bonnette's problems began about 11:15 p.m. Thursday, when he spotted David B. Taha, 22, and Jonathan S. Zingale, 23, in a car parked near Winchester Bar at Madison and Winchester avenues.

"He confronted them, and they gave him the story that it was a friend's car who was in the bar, and that they ran out of money and needed some change," said Police Chief Tim Malley.

Bonnette had not been drinking in that bar.

Commentary:
It would appear Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald T. McFaul should be spending a bit more time cleaning up his own house, instead of spouting off about how concealed handgun license (CHL)-holders cannot be trusted to bear arms for self-defense.

"If somebody punches you in the mouth, do you run to your truck and get the .38?" he asked the Plain Dealer while explaining his opposition to concealed carry reform in 2002. "That's the person we need to be careful with."

Apparently, citizens may need to be a bit more "careful" with McFaul's deputies. McFaul is running for re-election in the March 2 primary. He is opposed by Woodmare Chief of Police Lamont Lockhart.

The Rotten Apples and Sour Grapes in Ohio's media must shiver at the thought of having to post headlines like these in Ohio. That day will come.

February 19, 2004
Rocky Mountain News

A measure that would erase the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's database of concealed-weapons permits is headed to the Colorado House.

House Bill 1205 would change a law passed last year that created statewide standards for people who want to carry concealed weapons.

In this election year, when political leaders don't want lawmakers on the record on controversial issues, House Bill 1205 may be one of the only gun bills to be voted on in the House.

The House Information and Technology Committee approved the measure 7-3 Wednesday, with just one Democrat, Rep. Carl Miller, D-Leadville, splitting with his colleagues to vote with Republicans.

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

February 23, 2004
Fremont News-Messenger

Concealed weapons, reckless driving in school zones and economic development were among the key issues discussed by area high school students for the city's annual Youth Government Day.

About 25 students from both Ross and St. Joe High Schools conducted a 30 minute mock-meeting following Fremont City Council's regularly scheduled meeting Thursday night. Earlier in the day the students shadowed various city officials and council members to get a feeling for what a typical day is for them.

Four issues were on the student's agenda for the evening.

The first issue, an issue that was of importance last year, was a ban on public smoking. Most students used the ban in Toledo as an example of how it could hurt businesses.

"The smoking ban takes away from a businesses rights," said Kyle Bohland, a Fremont Ross student who served as the mayor. "Not only does it infringe on their rights, but it significantly inhibits economic growth."

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

OFCC has learned that Children's Medical Center in Dayton, a privately-owned, for-profit hospital, has adopted the Ohio Hospital Association's victim-zone mentality, and is planning to post discriminatory signs to ward off law-abiding customers.

According to our sources, the following internal communication was recently dispatched by hospital bureaucrats:

Children's working on policy to prevent concealed weapons
Date posted: February 5, 2004

Ohio's new concealed carry law, which becomes effective April 8, 2004, allows Ohioans who meet certain criteria to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun.

The law excludes some places such as schools, airports, courthouses and daycare centers. However, license holders are not prevented from carrying a concealed weapon into a private hospital unless the hospital adopts their own policies banning all firearms including concealed handguns on their premises.

To be ready for the implementation of this law, Children's is drafting a new policy that addresses concealed weapons and dangerous ordnance. This policy will specifically state that Children's prohibits deadly weapons and dangerous ordnance on all Children's premises, including structures, driveways, and parking lots. This policy will apply to all visitors, employees, patients, trespassers, or customers whether on their person or vehicle.

We will keep you informed about the progress of this policy as it continues to take shape during the review process. If you have any questions concerning this topic, please call Tom Neel at XXXX.

Feb. 22, 2004
Akron Beacon Journal

County executive endorses candidate

AKRON - Summit County Executive James B. McCarthy has endorsed candidate Gregg Cramer of Fairlawn in the Democratic primary race for state representative from the 41st House District.

Cramer is running against Clark Hosick and Brian Williams, both of Akron.

Commentary:
In late January, Summit Co. Executive James McCarthy issued a legally and Constitutionally-questionable executive order banning firearms (even openly-carried) from "all county buildings and vehicles and on county property." McCarthy said he wants there to be no doubt in anyone's mind: Leave your guns at home if you're heading for a county building.

McCarthy's endorsement of Gregg Cramer begs a question which all Democrats who care about the right to bear arms and right to self-defense need to be asking: The friend of mine enemy is my...?

The OFCC PAC knows the answer, and has endorsed Clark Hosick in the Democrat primary for the 41st Ohio House. In his OFCC PAC Candidate Survey, Hosick expressed strong support for concealed carry, and supports ideas to "reform the reform law".

Related Stories:
Public officials' rush to ban CHL-holders could be illegal

Gun prohibitionists seek traction in Akron