First in Athens Co., and now in Franklin Co., two of Ohio's sheriffs seem to being having trouble with the definition of the word "or"...

April 21, 2004
The (Ohio State University) Lantern

Suits file in concerning new carry law

By Trevor Knoblich

Three lawsuits related to the new concealed carry law were filed at the Ohio Supreme Court in the law's first two days of existence.

One lawsuit, filed against Franklin County Sheriff Jim Karnes, states Columbus resident Josephine Lee filed the appropriate paperwork for a temporary emergency permit, but the sheriff would not process it.

L. Kenneth Hanson III, the lawyer representing Lee, said his client was asked for additional information to provide evidence that she was in danger and needed the emergency permit.

"Not only did she do the affidavit - which by itself was good enough - but when they pressed her, she provided a police report number," Hanson said.

Karnes said the law specifically requires a reason for an emergency permit to be issued.

"You have to have a reason," Karnes said. "She didn't have a reason; she just said she was in fear."

Karnes also said Lee needed to provide a copy of a police report, not a number.

"She did not submit proper documentation that would allow her to get an emergency permit," Karnes said.

Hanson said he disagreed. He said the law does not require any information if an applicant has an affidavit.

"Ultimately, the sheriff is wrong," Hanson said.

Click on the "Read More..." link below to read more.

According to the Columbus Dispatch article RELEASE Re-entry REHABILITATION, a record 27,721 inmates — 90 percent of them men — released from Ohio prisons last year.

The number was triggered by an overhaul of criminal-sentencing laws, more-lenient parole policies and increased diversions to community corrections programs.

More than 9,100 former inmates — one out of three released last year — are expected to return to victimize other Ohioans yet again, and return to prison within three years, according to projections by prison officials.

Nationally, the numbers are staggering. A record 600,000 inmates will hit the revolving door this year; two of three likely will be rearrested within three years.

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

April 21, 2004
Columbus Dispatch

I was disturbed to hear Mayor Michael B. Coleman rail against the new concealed-carry legislation (Dispatch article, April 9). This piece of legislation has had more attention from Columbus residents and the local media than any other news item except the war in Iraq, and he just now found out about it?

If he wants to protect the people who use the parks, he should find ways to put more police on the streets instead of arguing against Columbus residents lawfully protecting themselves.

The person I am afraid of in a public park is not the one who goes to the local sheriff and gets a permit to legally carry a firearm after a background check and mandated training in gun safety. The person I am afraid of is the one wearing gang colors and carrying a Saturday night special, hoping that I am unarmed.

It is time that Coleman is held accountable for decisions that he has made with our tax dollars that take police officers and firefighters off the streets and generally contribute to the deterioration of the city. I have seen surveys indicating that as much as 80 percent of the public believes that the new law will help reduce crime. It is really time for Coleman to get off of his soapbox and get on the bandwagon.

PETER LaBIANCA
Dublin

Related Stories:
Section 9 update: OFCC successful in deterring several city ordinances

SIMPLE: Letter-writer understands; some Mayors stumped

Dispatch: Survey tabs Mayor Coleman as favorite among Dems in race for governor

April 21, 2004
Cincinnati Enquirer

Mother relives fatal shooting of daughter

HAMILTON - Janie Turley took extraordinary steps to protect her daughter from an ex-boyfriend.

Turley let her daughter move in with her; they shared a small one-bedroom apartment. She installed a surveillance camera in the building's hallway and watched parking-lot arrivals from a monitor in her living room.

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And on the breakfast table, alongside a vase of silk flowers, Turley kept two more safeguards handy: a court restraining order and a canister of pepper spray.

Despite all that, Turley told a Butler County jury on Tuesday, she was unable to save her daughter, Angela, from Anthony Darnell Mason last May 13.

"I wasn't close enough to get the gun away from her head," Turley said. She began sobbing and asked to take a break from testifying in Mason's trial, which began Monday in Common Pleas Court. If convicted of killing Angela Turley, Mason could face a death sentence.

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

In recent days, Ohioans For Concealed Carry has been receiving a number of reports of subversive activities by gun ban extremists.

Most of the reports involve a group calling itself the "Concealed Carry Law Task Force" which has been visiting stores in northeast Ohio, and "ordering" them to post "no-guns" signs, which they provide at no charge.

In other cases, stores are finding out they're "posted" only when concerned customers begin asking the store manager why they have a sign on their door. In the examples we're aware of, the manager always removes the sign.

How ironic that gun ban extremists are willingly violating the private property rights of these businesses, when their public defense for stores that post is always based on their private property rights.

Following is an email from one surprised store manager to a concerned customer, who discovered that a part-time employee had "posted" the business without his knowledge:

-----Original Message-----
From: Office Depot - Marion
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2004 12:29 PM
Subject: Concealed Carry Sign

I am writing you regarding the sign we had posted on our front door on Friday 4/9/04.

That sign was posted by a part time sales associate without the knowledge of our management staff. I apologize for the
inconvenience this caused you. The sign has been removed.

If I can be of any further assistance please let me know.

Thank You,

David T. Jeanmougin
Assistant Store Manager

Please make it a point to give some business to the Office Depot this week!

If you learn of other such tasteless and miselading activities by gun ban extremists in your area, please notify us using the "submit news" feature on the website.

Reporters write the stories, but it's often news editors that write the headlines. After reading this DDN story about businesses and concealed carry, the headline reads like wishful thinking.

Gun-toters to face barred doors throughout Valley
Businesses post signs on weapons

By Jason Roberson

April 21, 2004
Dayton Daily News

You can carry a gun while shopping at a Meijer or Wal-Mart supercenter, making deposits at the US Bank inside of a Cub Foods store and eating at a number of fast-food restaurants in the Dayton area.

But leave it in the car when walking through the mall, placing a subscription at the Dayton Daily News, or buying a bottle of wine from Arrow Wine & Spirits.

Local businesses are not unified in their stance on whether to allow weapons inside their doors under Ohio's new concealed-carry law. The law allows qualified gun owners to carry concealed firearms.

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