On April 16, 2004, the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence (Toby Hoover) issued a statewide press release, accusing Ohio State Representative Jim Aslanides, sponsor of House Bill 12, of violating Ohio's new Concealed Handgun License law.

"The Ohio gun lobby repeats the mantra, 'enforce the existing laws', and then the chief sponsor of the carrying concealed weapons law, Rep. Aslanides, breaks the law in obtaining his permit. I think this shows a serious lack of judgment and respect on the part of Rep. Aslanides, for the need to have sensible public safety measures in place," said Hoover.

"I think law enforcement, and the Attorney General's office should investigate how the CCW applicant system clearly broke down, and whether political influence or favors impacted the application system to benefit Rep. Aslanides."

Hoover's accusations were based on two sentences from a Columbus Dispatch story, indicating that Aslanides have been "issued" a license shortly after midnight on April 8, and that his background check was completed later that morning.

Had Hoover bothered to investigate further before publicly accusing an honored State Representative of breaking the law, she would have found out what every other reporter that called to investigate her claims learned:

Rep. Aslanides' license was physically printed at that time to reserve for him "License #1", an honor estended to him by his county Sheriff out of respect for his hard work as the sponsor of HB12.

But Aslanides tells OFCC he was NOT "issued" his license on April 8. In fact, he has still not even picked up his license - it is still waiting at the Sheriff's office.

Typically eager to reprint any claims Hoover makes, Ohio's liberal media did NOT reprint her story - obviously they too quickly learned her that charges were baseless.

Only one news source did: the Brady Campaign's Jointogether.org.

Let's hope the media keeps this in mind the next time they receive a press release from the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, or reads a story at the Brady Campaign's Jointogether.com.

No credibility. None.

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Another day, another advocation of law-breaking by gun ban extremists

Ohio gun banners advocating prank ''man-with-a-gun'' calls

OFCC volunteers have scored several victories in the effort to inform businesses about Ohio's new concealed carry law, and get them to remove discriminatory signs that had been posted.

Deacon's Chrysler in Mayfield Village told customers that the signs had been sent out by the Cleveland Auto Dealers' Association, and that an employee had just assumed they were supposed to go up.

King's Toyota, Deerfield Twp. (Cincinnati) took their signs down after a customer walked away from a deal after handing his salesperson a No Guns-No Money card.

Norris Auto Mall LLC owns eight new automotive and motorcyle stores in the Cleveland/ Akron/ Medina area. They posted signs after having a Sheriff's deputy* come in and offer to post free signs.
(We find it extremely ironic to hear sheriffs complaining about not having enough manpower for issuing licenses, only to learn that they are spending time giving out signs to advocate CCW bans.)

Please thank these dealers by giving them your business. Better still, thank the dealers that have never posted in the first place. And thank dealers which have become advocates for concealed carry, such as Madisonville-based Cincinnati Motor Car, whose owner recently told the Cincinnati Enquirer:

"I think the law will reduce the crime rate. Crimes of opportunity may be reduced. The perpetrators might have to think twice. There will be less crime when people have second thoughts."

Certain other car dealers that have not yet gotten the message.

When asked why they were banning CHL-holders, one of the dealers listed below (all of which have posted discriminatory signs), told a customer that "we get a lot of angry customers in here."

Perhaps there's a lesson in that...

NOTE: This list was accurate on the day it was published. Several of these dealerships have since taken down their signs. For an accurate list of posted dealerships, please visit OFCC's Do Not Patronize While Armed database.

Bedford Nissan, Bedford
Brown Pontiac, Toledo
Byers Chevrolet, Delaware
Charles Chevrolet, Garrettsville
Charlie's Dodge, Maumee
Dan Jordan Chrysler-Jeep, Beechwood
Don Wood Automotive Group, Athens & Logan
Ed Pike Lincoln Mercury, Mentor
Ferris Chevrolet, New Philadelphia
Hittle Pontiac-Buick-GMC-Cadillac, 1270 Sweitzer St., Greenville
Ganley Subaru East, Wickliffe
Glockner Honda and Toyota, Portsmouth
J&J Motors, Lincoln Way, Massilion
Jeff Wyler Honda,Cincinnati
Jim Keim Ford, 5575 Keim Circle, Columbus
Kennedy's Sport Cycles, Elyria
Kings Mazda and Kia, 4544 Kingswater Dr., Cincinnati
Kingswood Chrysler, Cincinnati
Kistler Ford, Toledo
Krieger Ford, Columbus
Laria Chevrolet-Buick, Rittman
Marshall Ford East, Mayfield Heights
Midway Pontiac-Chevrolet-Buick, Orwell
Mike Pruitt Ford, Lima
Mike Pruitt Honda, Akron
Montrose Ford, Fairlawn
Nassief Chevrolet-Pontiac-Cadillac-Honda, Ashtabula
Northgate Lincoln-Mercury, Cincinnati
Performance Pontiac, Wooster
Quality Buick, Madison
Ricart Ford, Chillicothe
Roman Cycle, Austintown
Saturn of Toledo
Saturn of Beechmont, Cincinnati
Saturn of King's Auto Mall, Cincinnati
Subaru of Beechmont, Cincinnati
Taylor Motors, Columbus Road, Athens
Terry Lee Chevrolet, Deerfield Twp. (Cincinnati)
Tony LaRiche Chevrolet, Willoughby Hills
Voss Chevrolet, Centerville
Wadsworth Ford, 851 Broad St., Wadsworth
Wallace Lincoln Mercury, 556 4th St. NW, Barberton
White-Allen Automotive Dealerships, all Dayton locations

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has learned that The Ohio Auto Dealers Association mailed "No CCW" signs to their members, and suggested that they post them "for liability protection." Click here to share your thoughts with OADA.

04.28.04
Middletown Journal

By Sim Evans
For The Journal

“Remember the first rule of gunfighting: ‘Have a gun.”’
— Jeff Cooper

Ohio’s concealed carry is now in effect. It is, as the old folks used to say, the law of the land, but the controversy still rages. Libraries that, only a few months ago, were begging the taxpayers for money, have now posted signs prohibiting firearms. They don’t want “guns amongst the children,” so please mail in your money.

Many restaurant chains are, as a matter of policy, doing the same thing. The thought of an armed citizen impatiently awaiting the belated delivery of a bowl of cold soup disturbs management. They know their product, they know their employees, and they’d rather not take any chances.

Newspaper editorials are nearly unanimous in their condemnation of this new law. Recently I had occasion to visit a local newspaper office. Upon entry, the first person I encountered was a uniformed guard. Taciturn and unsmiling, he requested that I state my business. I surmised his job was to keep out the riffraff, so I left. They must not trust their subscribers.

Even the Social Security office has a “no guns” sign, in large print, so us old geezers can read it. Inside, they have an armed guard, and I don’t understand why. Nobody goes to the Social Security office to steal; heck, they give money away down there.

Generally speaking, the police prefer that no one else carry a weapon, and this is understandable. If everybody has a gun, including Grandma, then what’s left for a policeman to feel special about? If everyone were sufficiently capable of defending themselves, so as to make the cost of aggression unacceptably high, then who would pay the policeman’s mortgage?

Police officials are fond of saying it is a safety issue; that police already have the most dangerous job in the community, and more guns on the street just makes it worse. Well, they are entitled to their own opinion but, as Sen. Pat Moynihan once said, “not to their own facts.” When it comes to dangerous jobs, being a policeman does not even rank in the top ten.

The statistics are firm on this; even the pizza delivery boy’s job is much more dangerous than that of the cop on the beat. Or one could reasonably interpret this statistic to indicate that police are unable to protect the pizza delivery boys.

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

Gun ban extremists want us to believe that crimes are never thwarted; that the presence of firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens will make bad situations worse; that vigilante justice will be meeted out if a criminal is ever apprehended by an armed citizen in an emotionally charged situation. Why should their lies continue to be put in print or taken into account?

April 27, 2004
WKYC.com NBC Ch. 3

84-year-old woman raped in her home, neighbors capture suspect

CLEVELAND -- An 84-year old woman was attacked and raped in her home on Cleveland's near west side Tuesday.

The suspect is already behind bars thanks to the victim's neighbors, who risked their lives to apprehend him.

"Most of the crowd that was chasing him was all women, I was surprised," said one witness.

Women like 75-year-old Ester Matlak and her daughter.

"The worst part of it is the guy, the man, had lived in this neighborhood," said Matlak.

"And for someone to do this to her, sick, it's just sick," said neighbor Aretta Schreman.

The victim's daughter caught the suspect red handed and came running into the street.

She screamed, "he's raping my mother, he's raping my mother."

That's when all the women from the nearby houses came running out.

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"I seen the daughter out here screaming and I was yelling, yelling, yelling and me and him fought all the way around the alley," said neighbor Lois Rodgers. "I kept trying to stop him and he kept trying to run."

"And to do something to Millie like that, she's a good hearted person, good hearted," said neighbor Kathy Oberst.

"Cause I wish I could have got him, I really do, we all could have got him right here all the neighbors, all the women," said neighbor Maryellen Trost.

The women had the 27-year-old suspect cornered in a nearby alley when neighbor Art Ledger came running outside with a handgun.

"And I had it right on his forehead and said you stay right here. Then the police department arrived," said neighbor Art Ledger.

"I just wish they would have dragged him out of the cop car and did him in right there, but you know what, that would be too good for him, I hope he gets the maximum sentence," said Michael Hudak, the victim's grandson.

And thanks to the bravery of the victims' neighbors, justice will be done.

Related Stories:
''Retail Rapist'' sought in greater Cincinnati

Police: Woman Raped In Downtown Parking Garage

Woman Reports Rape At I-77 Rest Stop

Rape deterrence and concealed carry reform

ifeminists.com: Women need to defend themselves

Gun permit applicants increasingly are women

Poll: 9-11 attacks and D.C. snipers trigger soccer mom support for self-defense

This guy didn't need a concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry out his crimes, and would have ignored a sign banning him from this store, just as he ignored all the laws he broke.

April 27, 2004
Dayton Daily News

Trotwood police shoot theft suspect
Ignored orders to drop gun, officials say

TROTWOOD | Trotwood police shot and wounded a shoplifting suspect Monday in the parking lot of Target at 2800 Shiloh Springs Road.

Officers said they pursued the 49-year-old man after receiving a report at 1:55 p.m. of shoplifting at the Kmart store across the street. Security guards had been fighting with an armed man outside the store, police Chief Mike Etter said. Trotwood police called for backup, and three marked cruisers and three unmarked police cars arrived.

The man ran across Shiloh Springs Road into the middle of the Target parking lot and held a handgun to his head, Etter said.

Officers warned the man to drop the gun, but when he did not surrender, they shot him with several rounds from a shotgun that fired bean bags, Etter said. The man then started running away and was shot in the shoulder by an officer armed with a 40-caliber handgun after he turned back toward the officers.

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

April 28, 2004
Cleveland Plain Dealer

At 72, stroke victim Ben Doepel, a well-known outdoorsman, figures he needs the protection of a gun.

He and his wife once were frightened by three suspicious men in a parking lot as she helped him climb out of his wheelchair. "I never felt so helpless in my life," said Doepel, former president of the Goodyear Hunting and Fishing Club. "I sure don't want to hurt no one, and neither does she. But we want to feel safe."

Ben and Rose Doepel, of Suffield Township, are among the first of more than 150 Northeast Ohioans issued permits to carry concealed handguns under an Ohio law that took effect April 8.

The Doepels received two of 25 permits issued in Portage County since Friday. In all, sheriff's departments in Northeast Ohio have handled more than 1,000 applications.

The Geauga County sheriff's department has issued the most permits so far - 98 since Friday, with nearly 300 applications.

Chief Deputy Scott Hildenbrand said most of the applicants have easily passed background checks.

The Medina County sheriff's department is processing about 315 applications, has given nine permits and has that many waiting to be picked up.

Commentary:
Section 2923.129 of House Bill 12 states that "the records
that a sheriff keeps relative to the issuance, renewal, suspension, or revocation of a license to carry a concealed
handgun or the issuance, suspension, or revocation of a temporary emergency license to carry a concealed handgun...are confidential and are not public records. Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, no person shall release or otherwise disseminate records that are
confidential under this division unless required to do so pursuant
to a court order."

Unless proper procedures under Section (B) (2) (public records for journalists) are being followed, whomever is tipping off journalists as to when licenses will be issued at Sheriff's offices may be committing a felony.

Section 2923.129 (E): "Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty
of illegal release of confidential concealed handgun license records, a felony of the fifth degree. In addition to any penalties imposed under Chapter 2929. of the Revised Code for a violation of division (B) of this section or a violation of section 2913.04 of the Revised Code described in division (D) of this section, if the offender is a sheriff, an employee of a sheriff, or any other public officer or employee, and if the violation was willful and deliberate, the offender shall be subject to a civil fine of one thousand dollars. Any person who is
harmed by a violation of division (B) or (C) of this section or a violation of section 2913.04 of the Revised Code described in
division (D) of this section has a private cause of action against the offender for any injury, death, or loss to person or property
that is a proximate result of the violation and may recover court costs and attorney's fees related to the action."

OFCC will only post stories which reveal names of license-holders when they have chosen to reveal themselves by making public comment to the news media.

OFCC's Ohio Media Monitoring Task Force is hard at work to watch for other signs of violations of the law, and of your privacy as a license-holder.

OFCC will work to defend the law and it's members, but we can only work with the resources we have. Join or donate today!