May 6, 2004 - Akron
Man foils business robbery

An Akron man picking up scrap metal foiled a robbery attempt in a Norton Avenue bowling alley.

Gary Parsons, 52, said he was talking to an employee about hauling away scrap when he saw a man walk into Brunswick Charger Lanes around 10 p.m April 26 and put a gun to the head of a female employee.

"He said, 'You've got five seconds,' '' Parsons said. "Then he walked around me and pointed the gun at Ric (Marquez -- another employee).'' Parsons said the man told Marquez, "You've got five seconds, and then I'm going to start shooting.''

"Everyone started ducking and a couple of people screamed. I was getting more ticked by the second,'' Parsons said. "I wasn't going to let him hurt anybody. I didn't want to grab the gun while he was waving it around because there were kids in there. He was pointing the gun everywhere.''

When Marquez put the cash register drawer on the counter, the suspect laid down the gun and Parsons saw his chance. He grabbed the gun, elbowed the robber in the throat, and threw the gun to Marquez.

April 29, 2004 - Cleveland
Police follow trail of blood to find robbery suspect

An off-duty sheriff's deputy shot a man who tried to rob him early Thursday morning.

It started at East 79th Street and Central Avenue with the attempted armed robbery.

The deputy was able to shoot the suspect and the man ran off.

Police followed a trail of blood to East 74th Street, where the man was apparently picked up.

They recovered the weapon there and later arrested the man at his house.

The deputy wasn't hurt.

May 10, 2004 - Toledo
Gunman shot in robbery at convenience store

A gunman who robbed a Monroe Street convenience store last night was shot at least twice by a store employee as he fled to a waiting car.

The unidentified gunman was reported in stable condition early today in Toledo Hospital, Sgt. Greg Smith said.

The assailant entered Howard and Sons, 3730 Monroe at 10:45 p.m., pulled a gun, and announced the holdup, Sergeant Smith said. As he ran from the store after taking cash, the gunman was shot by an employee.

Police believe the assailant fled to a waiting vehicle, then was dropped off at the hospital by the driver, who then left.

13 ABC TV COVERAGE: Gunman shot in robbery at convenience store (Windows Media Streaming)

The facts and details of this case are not known by OFCC beyond the circumstances highlighted in this story, accept that police say the clerk was a CHL-holder, and is not likely to be charged with any wrongdoing.

The following letter was published in response to yet another letter to the Crain's editor from Cleveland Brady Bunch/"Million" Mommer Lori O'Neill. To those who read her letter, it must be obvious why she has much better success at getting letters printed in Crain's than she does with lobbying efforts in Columbus - the majority of legislators know better.

May 10, 2004
Crain's Cleveland Business

Haven't we been through this before?

Lori O'Neill has been claiming that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has some bearing over concealed carry for more than a year. But careful readers will note that she never mentions actually calling OSHA for their opinion on the issue.

My organization, Ohioans For Concealed Carry, did.

Jeff Lewis, Safety and Occupational Health Manager, of Region 6 of OSHA, has told Ohioans For Concealed Carry that OSHA has no policy or the authority to regulate firearms in the workplace. Should an employer choose to allow firearms in the workplace, Lewis says, he would be under no violation of any OSHA regulation or guideline.

Before creating policies which would render employees defenseless on the trip to and from work, why not ask other states if allowing employees to keep their firearms on their person at work, or in their personal vehicles on company property, has created problems. O'Neill hasn't, but we have.

Mr. Jeff Alan, Director of Legislative Education in the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, told OFCC that in the 7 years since the law was passed, they haven't had EVEN ONE report of a business having troubles meeting OSHA guidelines. What's more, there is no history of any litigation on the issue - and Kentucky law doesn't provide the civil immunity for businesses that Ohio law does!

This information has been available at www.ohioccw.org since O'Neill first made her claims. As a frequent reader of our website, Ms. O'Neill is must certainly be aware of these facts. What should we conclude about her credibility that she continues to make these statements?

Some retailers have informed OFCC that a group of gun ban extremists calling themselves the "Concealed Carry Law Task Force" is delivering signs to Cleveland-area businesses and "ordering" clerks to post them, or in some cases these extremists are posting signs without authorization. And yet O'Neill, a Million Mom March/Brady Campaign worker, claims be an advocate for business' private property rights?

Before posting signs ordering customers with concealed handgun licenses (CHL)'s to shop elsewhere, every owner or proprietor of a business should consider the 2004 Zogby Values Poll. Right-to-Carry drew better than 70% support in every demographic group, with even non-gun owners indicating their backing by 73% to 23%.

We encourage business-owners to call their counterparts in every state that borders Ohio, and in the vast majority of states across this nation. Most businesses have chosen not to post discriminatory signs banning CHL-holders, nor have they experienced any problems as a result.

Many northeast Ohio businesses have already felt the effects of posting these discriminatory signs, and taken them back down: Marc's, Discount Drug Mart, Deacon's Chrysler, Norris Auto Mall LLC, and certain Giant Eagle and Boston Market stores to name a few.

In her conclusion, O'Neill purports to speak for "most" CHL-holders who "will not object to being asked to leave their guns in their cars while patronizing businesses that prohibit guns." This gun ban advocate certainly does NOT speak for Ohio's growing number of CHL-holders, but would-be car and gun thieves certainly hope she is.

Chad D. Baus
Spokesperson
Ohioans For Concealed Carry

OhioCCW.org is a non-profit organization of lawful firearms owners, and is based in Cleveland.

Related Story:
Deja vu all over again: ''Million'' Mommer trying to scare businesses with op-ed

Click on the "Read More..." link below for a another response letter (this time to an anti-concealed carry Crain's article that would more appropriately have been placed on the editorial page.

May 10, 2004
CNSNews.com

(CNSNews.com) - It wasn't a "Million Mom March" -- it was a "thousand gang limp," said one Second Amendment supporter, describing Sunday's anti-gun march in Washington.

The Washington Post, which ran the story on page B-1, said "thousands" of people, mostly women, marched to "end gun violence" on Sunday.

The newspaper described the rally as "the largest gun-control demonstration in four years," then went on to say, "The rally lacked star power, and certainly the numbers, of the first Million Mom March in 2000, when hundreds of thousands of women flooded the Mall on Mother's Day."

The Washington Post said organizers of this year's event estimated the number of attendees "at close to 3,000." The Associated Press put the number at 2,000, according to John Michael Snyder, public affairs director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA).

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Snyder said the rally shows "the good citizens of the United States of America would rather spend Mother's Day enjoying their time with the mothers of America than wasting it on Brady bunch nonsense."

The so-called "Halt the Assault" rally was organized by the Million Mom March in connection with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The two groups merged after the first Million Mom March.

According to Snyder, Sunday's march "drew such a pitiful crowd of supporters that automobile traffic on the bridges crossing the Potomac River from Virginia into Washington, D.C. flowed more quickly than normal " - despite full-page newspaper ads urging gun control supporters to attend the rally.

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

For those former Kroger customers in Cincinnati who are searching for a new place to purchase food for your family, Biggs Eastgate has removed signs barring CHL-holders, and has thus been removed for the "Do Not Patronize While Armed" list. They now join Walmart SuperCenters, Meijer's and a long list of other Cincinnati-area grocers that do not discriminate against people who choose to bear arms for self-defense.

From: Chris J. Dever
Subject: Conceal Carry
Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 11:16:17 -0400

Thank you for your insight surrounding the carry conceal law that recently passed. As you are aware their are many different opinions with this issue. As a customer focused retailer we will always welcome feedback on what we can do better and also what will enhance our shoppers experience.

We have removed the signs from the front of the store. If there is anything else I can help you with please let me know.

Thanks!

Chris Dever
Store Manager
Bigg's Eastgate

Related Story:
Dear Kroger...