As one OFCC volunteer put it upon hearing news of this shooting, "this is EXACTLY why I carry in parks and why we need to be able to carry in parks. You never know where there is (as the Mayor called the shooter) an "idiot" like this."

For Immediate Release: 6/25/2004

BELLEVUE, WA— The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) today applauded Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick for “finally getting it” about fixing responsibility for a violent act on the perpetrator, and not holding firearms owners responsible as a group.

In the wake of a Wednesday nights shooting of nine people during a fireworks show, a man apparently pulled a handgun and shot nine people. In response, Kilpatrick was quoted by the Associated Press insisting the man was a lone “idiot.”

“This is not who we are,” Kilpatrick reportedly stated. “This is who he is.”

SAF Founder Alan Gottlieb stated, “We would like to congratulate Mayor Kilpatrick, who has apparently figured out that the conduct of one thug with a gun does not represent the conduct of millions of law-abiding American firearms owners. He most assuredly does not represent the tens of thousands of Michigan residents who are licensed to legally carry firearms for their personal protection.

“Unfortunately,” Gottlieb added, “it appears Kilpatrick arrived at this epiphany not because he’s suddenly decided all gun owners aren’t bad, but only to do damage control for his city, out of concern for potentially lost revenue. Tell us it’s not the money, Kwame. Tell us it’s about good guys and bad guys, and that you really do recognize the difference.”

Police reportedly have a suspect in custody, and they’ve recovered a gun, identified in one report as a Glock 9mm pistol from which the serial number has been “obliterated.” Incredibly, one newspaper, and Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, have used this crime to call for renewal of the ban on so-called “assault rifles” before it expires in September.

“The gun in question was an illegally-altered handgun,” Gottlieb said, “making its possession a crime. The ‘assault rifle’ ban has nothing to do with handguns, and using this crime as an excuse to press for renewal of that failed legislation amounts to inexcusable grandstanding.

“Law-abiding gun owners deplore such senseless shootings,” Gottlieb stated. “The individual who did this should be held responsible, but it is he who is guilty, not the millions of legally-armed Americans who had nothing to do with this, or any, crime.”

The Second Amendment Foundation is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, CT; and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers & an amicus brief & fund for the Emerson case holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.

-END-

June 25, 2004
Sidney Daily News

Shameful is what I think of The Sidney Daily News for publishing the names and addresses (of law-abiding citizens) of the CCW permit holders. I feel the newsworthy story ended with the statistical facts of how many permits have been issued. A newspaper like SDN is one of the reasons why the lawmakers had such a hard time passing the CCW bill. SDN has abused its authority in listing names and addresses.

The follow-up story states SDN felt that people have a right to know if their neighbors have a CCW permit. This is so far from the truth because those who did get a permit already had guns in their home. So why would it make any difference now that they can legally carry them? I think if SDN is going to start such a practice, they should also list the following:

o First, each week when someone is released from jail or prison, their name and address should be listed in the paper so the neighbors can protect themselves from true criminals (non-law-abiding citizens).

o The second item that SDN should print is the name and address of all the people that vote (again, law-abiding citizens) in each election. That way we can try to shame our neighbors who have not voted into exercising their civic duties.

Also in the second story, SDN stated that Sheriff O'Leary was unclear as to what he could and could not release. Well, it does not take a lawyer to understand that "name and county of resident" means just that. Not the full address. There is no confusion in the law. The reason " county of resident" is listed that way is because not all CCW permit holders that receive their permits from a county actually live in that county. I was trying to be a good Shelby County citizen and spend my money locally, but never again. Next time, I will go out of the county.

Larry D. Logan

Related Story
Letter-writer responds to Sidney Daily News' act of publishing CHL-holders

June 25, 2004
Dayton Daily News

Sheriff's actions endanger others

Re: "Gun law changes sought," JUNE 10: I read with interest the article concerning Shelby County Sheriff Kevin O'Leary's disclosure of the addresses of people who had completed Ohio's concealed-carry course, as I am one of them.

Much has been made about "those dangerous people" who are licensed to carry firearms. Contrary to popular perception, the people in my firearms course, which was conducted by law enforcement officers, were business owners, professional people, senior citizens, the general working population, and even employees of our police department.

The only thing we had in common was that we had never been convicted of a felony, a violent assault, domestic violence, using or trafficking in drugs, or violence against police officers. None of us had been deemed to be incompetent or had been committed to a mental institution. In short, we were part of everyday working society.

For me, taking the course was a business decision. My profession sometimes takes me and my expensive equipment into questionable areas.

As to why O'Leary chose to release our addresses to a newspaper, one can only speculate about his reason or agenda, but his actions have only put more of us in harm's way. Now criminals have a new list of places to find weapons they cannot purchase legally, and, if those guns should be used to harm others, then O'Leary must share in that responsibility.

— Russell Moore, Sidney

Don't alter concealed-carry law

Re: "Gun law changes sought," June 10: Sen. Ray Miller, D-Columbus, and Rep. Tyrone Yates, D-Cincinnati want to amend the Ohio concealed-carry law.

As a law-abiding citizen who believes in the right to carry a concealed weapon, I question why these left-wing liberal lawmakers are afraid of one's right to self-protection. Then I realized they are both Democrats, and they are only espousing the beliefs of the Democratic Party.

After all, it is the Democrats who want to ban weapons, take away individuals' rights to bear arms, and instill fear in the public with regard to law-abiding gun owners.

Personal weapons deter at least 2 million crimes a year; the incidence of gun crimes is not attributable to law-abiding citizens who own guns, but to the criminals who illegally possess weapons; and states that have concealed carry have a decrease in violent crimes.

I hope the Ohio Attorney General's Office will enforce the law as written, and not further encroach on the citizens' right to bear arms and protect themselves and their loved ones.

— Randall W. Klotz, Germantown

To read a letter to the Akron Beacon Journal editor concerning public records vs. privacy debate (not directly re: CCW), click on the "Read More..." link below.