A new survey has been added to the OFCC PAC website, testing Shelby Co. Sheriff Kevin O'Leary's assertion that the words county of residence in Ohio Revised Code are "convoluted, vague, and open to interpretation, and could be construed specifically as the name of the county or the full address at which the permit holder resides inside the county."

Is Shelby County Prosecuting Attorney Jim Stevenson spending his time wisely investigating "to see if there are different ways to interpret the language"?

Vote on the upper-right corner of the homepage, or click here.

If you haven't already done so, you can still weigh in on whether you are pleased with the job your sheriff is doing implementing Ohio's CHL law by clicking here.

Temporary hours adopted as deputies try to catch up

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has learned that due to an overwhelming
amount of applications received, the Lorain County Sheriff's Office is
being forced to temporarily reduce the number of days per week they will
be accepting applications for concealed handgun licenses.

Captain Drozdowski stated in a phone conversation that they have
assigned additional deputies to handle the deluge of applications, and
are struggling to meet the 45 day deadline. To date, more than 1,200
applications have been received, with nearly a dozen more coming in
every day. Drozdowski reports that more than 50% of these applications
are from neighboring Cuyahoga County, where resistance from Sheriff
McFaul has alienated many of his own residents.

Captain Drozdowski stressed that this is only a temporary reduction
until they are able to get caught up on processing. The new hours will
be 8am to 6pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The Lorain County Sheriffs Department has been outstanding in every
aspect of the new concealed carry application process, with the only
drawback being the length of time to issue. With the early refusal of
Cuyahoga County Sheriff McFaul refusing to issue, Lorain County has
basically been processing two counties worth of applicants. They are
making every effort to comply, and are asking everyone to be patient and
understanding, even if your 45 day window is quickly approaching or has
been exceeded.

Ohioans For Concealed Carry also asks that all Lorain County applicants
please exercise patience. This office is on our side, and is making an
honest effort to comply while ensuring that licenses are only issued to
qualified applicants. They have even taken to making personal phone
calls to follow up on records checks that are slow to arrive.

UPDATE: Geauga County Sheriff Daniel McClelland has informed OFCC his office has been processing applications well-within the required 45-day window. Geauga County which borders Cuyahoga to the east, is ready and willing to assist with overflow from Cuyahoga County.

Lake Co. Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap has also informed OFCC that they would be happy to take some Cuyahoga Co. residents. Lake Co., which borders Cuyahoga to the northeast, issues CHLs to qualified applicants in about two weeks.

June 16, 2004: Lorain Morning Journal - Weapon permit requests piling up

Related Stories:
A few Sheriffs' difficult licensing procedures deterring applicants

Cuyahoga Sheriff can't avoid duty under law; settles concealed carry lawsuit

June 13, 2004
(Portage Co.) Daily Record Courier

Nearly 350 people have applied in Portage County for permits to carry concealed weapons since a new law allowing concealed carry in Ohio took effect on April 8.

Portage County Sheriff Duane Kaley said that as of June 9, 348 applications had been recieved by his office seeking the permits. Of those, at least 174 were approved and have been issued permits, while three have been denied and the remainder are pending completion of the process.

“We have noticed the number of applicants slowing down to some degree, and we’re very pleased that of those who have come in and applied, only three were denied,” Kaley said Wednesday. “What this tells us is that we’re not having an influx of unsavory people coming in to apply.”

Within the first week after the law went into effect, more than 150 applications were made - a result of those applicants taking the required CCW classes before the law actually was in effect.

“We definitely had an initial rush due to that,” Kaley said.

Still, nearly six weeks after the law took effect, Kaley said the sheriff’s office is scheduling appointments daily to give the permits to those who have been approved.

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

June 12, 2004
Zanesville Times Recorder

The letter of the law often flies in the face of what seems reasonable.

Harold Newell Jr. of Zanesville found that out recently when he was denied a concealed-carry gun permit.

Newell is now 56 years old. But 38 years ago, as a teenager, he and four other youths stole five cases of beer from an unlocked cooler at a convenience store in Zanesville. He was charged with felony breaking and entering, and was fined and given probation.

Years later, his record was expunged. But he still couldn't get a concealed-carry license in Ohio. Under the new state law, sheriff's offices and the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation can inspect expunged records and juvenile records and use the information to determine if an individual should be issued a concealed-carry license.

Concealed carry weapons licenses can be denied if a person has been convicted of a felony, assault, homicide-related charges, drug, assault on a peace officer or domestic violence crimes, according to the Muskingum County Sheriff's Office.

Newell is no stranger to firearms. He's a retired Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who served in Vietnam and Lebanon. He worked as a corrections officer for Belmont and Noble counties. He has received concealed-carry weapons licenses in Massachusetts and Louisiana.

"I have nothing to hide," he said. "I was a kid; I made a mistake. We confessed to it all, paid the fines and were given probation. But my constitutional rights have not been restored."

It seems reasonable he should be granted a permit. But because the law is new, there are still kinks being worked out. This appears to be one of them. We don't believe the intent of the concealed-carry law was to prevent people in Newell's situation from receiving a permit.

His next step is to seek remedy in common pleas court. More importantly, he hopes to work with state representatives and senators to modify the law regarding expunged records.

There was no doubt that a law as controversial as this one would have rough spots. We hope the Legislature will revisit the issues that arise and smooth them out.

FLASHBACK: President Bush pardons TN man so he can get his CCW permit

Related Stories:
Man protests denial of concealed carry license

Only Half Right: Pro-CCW newspaper editors call for Am. Sub. HB12 passage