March 8, 2004
Toledo Blade

The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library's plan to post gun-ban notices may have good intentions, but is not very well thought out and could possibly work to the disadvantage of its patrons.

It is true that libraries are exempted under the new concealed-carry law. However, it is not necessary to post the information. Anyone who is issued a CCW permit will have clearly been advised of the rules before ever being issued a permit; it is part of the mandated training. The legal carriers will be well aware of the restriction.

Will the non-carrying patrons feel safer because the library ban is posted? In the words of the library director, "... the general public has no idea unless they've followed this law ..."

If they haven't followed the law, then it is pretty safe to assume that they don't care anyway. If they have followed the law, then they know that libraries are no-carry zones.

In fact, the posting only serves to remind and confirm to the criminally minded element of society that people going to and from the library will most assuredly be unarmed and therefore safer prey than the average Joe on the street!

Not only may the posting serve to give patrons a false sense of security, it may actually put them in greater jeopardy by causing them to relax their normal level of vigilance.

People who follow the law know the law. Those who don't won't pay attention to signs anyway. Even if a law-abiding, licensed carrier were to forget and carry his weapon into the library, experience in other states has shown that licensed carriers are not people who break other laws.

So what is the point of advertising the vulnerability of your patrons to the bad guys? Think it through, thoroughly.

RICHARD B. IOTT
Monclova

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Man carjacks carrier for (Middletown News) Journal

March 8. 2004
Middletown News Journal

A Middletown man was shoved to the ground and his vehicle carjacked early Friday morning while he was delivering The Journal.

Ethan Long, 23, was beginning his route at about 5:45 a.m. in Midtonia Village on South Sutphin Street when a man shoved him against an open vehicle door. Long banged his head, then fell to the ground.

“It knocked him silly for a while. The next thing he knew, the guy was driving away in his car,” Middletown Detective David Swartzel said, adding that Long tried to get off the ground, but the carjacker drew back his fist in an act of aggression. “And he just let him have the car, which is what he should have done,” Swartzel said.

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Why is it so hard for the media to understand that these are EXACTLY the types of people that we expected to "pack heat"? It is only their bigotry that stereotyped all proponents as white middle-aged men.

Concealed weapons law takes effect soon

March 8, 2004
Akron Beacon-Journal

One is a fifth-grade teacher, another a stroke victim who walks with a cane.

Not exactly the folks you would expect to be packing heat.

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But both recently took firearms training so they can become eligible to carry a concealed weapon come April.

That's when Ohio's new ``concealed carry'' law takes effect -- for those who qualify and are trained.

It's not surprising that some Ohioans want to carry guns. But it is surprising to shooting instructors just who some of those people are.

Bob Campbell is one of the unlikely students.

The 64-year-old Mantua man suffered a stroke five years ago. As a result, he walks with a cane and has weaker vision in his left eye.

"I can't run and I can't fight anymore,'' he said. ``If the state will let me carry a gun, it makes it a whole lot better.''

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City council to discuss concealed carry law

March 8, 2004
Zanesville Times Recorder

ZANESVILLE -- Ohio's new concealed carry law will be part of the discussion at city council tonight.

Council will meet at 7 p.m. with a work session at 6:15 p.m. to review changes to the budget. On the agenda for the meeting is an ordinance which would establish policies concerning weapons. House Bill 12, known as the concealed carry law, will become effective on April 8.

The bill requires political subdivisions to post signs in noticeable areas. The signs will state, "Unless otherwise authorized by law, pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code, no person shall knowingly possess, have under the person's control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance onto these premises."

In addition to the signs, the city will create an employment policy which will be included in all future employee handbooks. The policy will prohibit any city employee with the exception of law enforcement personnel from having a deadly weapon while acting in the course of their duties or allowing anyone to have a weapon on city property.

The ordinance is being considered under an emergency basis so it will be in effect before the law becomes active.

Related Stories:
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Next step for Ohio?:
Detroit Free-Press: Court decision a win for gun owners
In a victory for gun owners, the Michigan Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal of a lower court decision that cities can't ban handguns from city halls, libraries and other public buildings. The decision gives a victory to a statewide gun-rights group that challenged a 2001 ban by Ferndale on guns in city buildings.

Schools emerge after concealed-carry law

March 8, 2004
Dayton Daily News

VANDALIA | The students fire their guns repeatedly. Some put tight clusters of bullet holes on 9-inch paper plates mounted 7 yards away. Others scatter their shots; they often hit the cardboard behind the plates.

One older man can barely hit the plate. Nine out of 10 shots from his revolver fly elsewhere. His chances of earning his concealed-carry weapon training certificate, required to get his permit, appear to be nil.

"You're not going to make it," an instructor softly tells him.

Not everyone does, according to Dave Williams, a retired Dayton police lieutenant who opened Miami Valley Law Enforcement Training last year, and who is offering the CCW classes. Some people are rejected outright. Williams' staff has also thrown out at least one student for not following safety rules or instructors' orders.

"We removed him from the range," Williams said. "We are very selective about who we let in here. I am under no obligation to teach anyone."

Still, the demand is high, and the applicants keep coming. The enactment of concealed-carry Jan. 8 has brought about a unique business opportunity for about 5,300 people across Ohio, instructors certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy or the National Rifle Association.

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