UPDATE: Frisch's Inc. signs coming down!

Ohioans For Concealed Carry first brought word of a new interstate policy discriminating against CHL-holders at Frisch's Inc. on March 1.

This particular ban is one of the most baffling we've seen, since Frisch's Inc. has allowed patrons of Golden Corral, Frisch's and Big Boy in states such as Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee to bear arms for self-protection in their restaurants for years.

On March 4th, Frisch's began distributing a letter to concerned patrons from President & CEO Craig F. Maier. This letter moved the story from baffling to insulting.

In it, Maier states Frisch's Inc. is now taking the official position that "your personal safety is not being compromised by our prohibition of concealed weapons in our restaurants." Maier goes on to state that Frisch's management "prefer that the only people in our restaurants with weapons are police officers."

Does Mr. Maier honestly think that criminals who come to rob Frisch's stores or to harm it's patrons will care about his "preference"?

Publication of Maier's letter spawned another round of calls and letters from customers, but apparently Frisch's still intends to post their discriminatory signs beginning April 8, 2004. The following letter is the latest communication from Frisch's on the subject:

Dear [Customer]:

Mike Cigolotti
Marketing Department
2800 Gilbert Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45206

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

If you want to make
your voice heard, visit http://www.frischs.com/contact2.asp.

And of course, when the signs go up, you can always express yourself with your ''No Guns-No Money'' Cards, and with your dollars. There will always be restaurants nearby which respect the rights (and responsibility) of their customers.

There are no credible studies that show increased dangers to businesses because of concealed carry, yet many prove the benefits.

Ohio's media outlets are ramping up on coverage of the impending implementation of Ohio's new concealed carry reform law.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for a long list of links to Ohio media coverage.

Ohioans For Concealed Carry is happy to report that the Henry Bierce Company has removed their "no guns" signs, just two days after we first reported on the signs' existence.

According to a store representative, the whole thing was based on a big misunderstanding.

Representatives from the Henry Bierce Co. recently attended an informational meeting held by the Tallmadge Chamber of Commerce. At that meeting, information was handed out by the Tallmadge Police Department, advising businesses on the laws regarding businesses.

After their customer told them he was unhappy with the sign (and emailed OFCC), the store reviewed the information they received at the meeting. Turns out the store had misinterpreted the police department's literature.

Henry Bierce Co. now realizes it doesn't say businesses MUST ban - just informs them on how they could ban, if they wanted to. The Tallmadge Chamber of Commerce concurs, telling OFCC today that stores in Tallmadge should know that signs are NOT a requirement.

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The signs have come down at the Henry Bierce Co., and citizens can again peacefully shop their favorite hardware store, as they have for nearly a century.

Related Stories:
SIGNS COME DOWN: Marc's discount stores pull discriminatory signs

Discount Drug Mart: There will be no corporate policy on signs

More to call: Do Not Patronize While Armed

On March 24, 2003 Crain's Cleveland Business published an editorial opposing the reformation of concealed carry laws in Ohio. This editorial bore striking similarity to a letter printed in multiple Ohio papers, written by Lori O'Neill, president of the "Million" Mom March chapter of greater Cleveland. In that 2003 editorial, Crain's editors admitted that they were "a bit far afield" when they decided to take a position on HB12.

One year later, they've gone over the edge - bringing an extremely one-sided, anti-concealed-carry editorial into the news section of both their Cleveand and Detroit publications.

Get out your Rolaids, then click on the "Read More..." link below to read the story.

March 28, 2004
Youngstown Vindicator
by Patricia Meade

YOUNGSTOWN — Let's say you're in your 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, whatever, and moved a lot over the years — can you list each and every address going back to age 18?

Well, Ohio's application for a license to carry a concealed handgun requires such a list. The three-page application is now available online at the Ohio attorney general's Web site, www.ag.state.oh.us. Click on Citizen Services, then click on Ohio's Concealed Carry Law.

I've already completed the 12-hour firearms training course, so my next step is the application process at the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department. The law takes effect April 8.

I understand that applicants must say where they've lived in order for the sheriff's department and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation to do a thorough background check.

Understanding is one thing, answering accurately is another. The instructions say to complete the address section "to the best of your knowledge."

The application has space for three prior residences — street address, city, state, ZIP code and county — which must be shown in chronological order, beginning with the most recent. The instructions say to attach another sheet if you need more space.

I definitely need to attach a sheet — or two.

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