Gun Week Magazine

by Dave Workman
Senior Editor

June 1, 2004

Months ago, Ohio lawmakers finally passed legislation that allows Buckeye State gunowners who meet the requirements to carry concealed handguns (CCW) for personal protection, but all over the state, gun owners are meeting with varying degrees of continued resistance, and they are taking action, usually with positive results.

Chad Baus with Ohioans for Concealed Carry (OFCC), and grassroots gun rights activist Bruce Beatty both report cases where it appears local gun policies are colliding with the new state statute.

The strongest resistance appears to be in Toledo, where reports surfaced last month that Mayor Jack Ford was adamant about prohibiting firearms in the city’s parks, even though the new state CCW law specifically allows licensed citizens to do so. Calls to the mayor and Police Chief Mike Navarre were not returned.

Activist Jim Irvine filed a lawsuit to force Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul to begin accepting concealed pistol license (CPL) applications in early April, as required by law. McFaul had originally announced he would not accept CPL applications until late May or early June, according to OFCC.

In Summit County, an executive order issued by County Executive James McCarthy that prohibited guns in all county buildings and vehicles on county property was amended to comply with the requirements of the new state law.

There is even one problem with a local library board posting property outside libraries off limits, which OFCC says is a violation of the preemption clause.

Localities Complying

According to Baus, county and city governments are complying with the preemption section of the statute “once they are advised of the law.”

“We’ve been having one of our volunteers, an attorney, send a letter every time we’re made aware of a municipality considering a new ordinance,” Baus told Gun Week. “For the most part, that letter has been all it takes. They weren’t aware of the intent of the legislature. Most cities, towns, villages are doing the right thing when they are advised of state law.”

He acknowledged, though, that some officials have to be “dragged kicking and screaming,” and he included the Cuyahoga County sheriff on that list.

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Following is an email we have received from a pro-CCW business. This business is a GREAT shopping alternative to Mid-Ohio Harley Davidson in Springfield, which has posted discriminatory signs barring CHL-holders.

We Support CCW Lic. Holders and WANT their Business!

We at The Hog Farm, Inc. a local business in Hamersville, OH not only believe in supporting our troops by selling all of our 150,000+ Harley and Custom motorcycle parts to current active duty military or any Honarably discharged military personel at DEALER COST as a way of saying thanks, but we are now gong to extend that to any CCW License holder.

Just come into to our shop and we will let you buy any of our parts from any of our suppliers at DEALER COST! And if you buy any of our deeply discounted custom built motorcycles (35 models to choose from) we will sell you any of your extras for a YEAR from any of our over 150 manufacturers - anything you want - at DEALER COST!

We ourselves have gotten our CCW Lic. and welcome all bikers and CCW holders to come to our shop 50 miles east of Cincinnti and shop with savings of 30 to 70% over other motorcycle shops or dealers who don't allow CHL-holders to carry in their establishments.

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