July 15, 2004
Washington Post

Guns Worn In Open Legal, But Alarm Va.
'Exercising Right' Called 'Unreasonable' by Some

On July 2, Fairfax County police received a 911 call from a Champps restaurant in Reston. Six men are seated at a table, the caller said. They're all armed.

Dispatchers quickly sent four officers to the scene. The officers were "extremely polite" and were hoping that some of the men were in law enforcement, said Sgt. Richard Perez, a spokesman for the police department. None was.

The men told the officers "they were just exercising their rights as citizens of the commonwealth," Perez said.

Turns out, packing a pistol in public is perfectly legal in Virginia. And three times in the last month, including at Champps on Sunset Hills Road, residents have been spotted out and about in the county, with guns strapped to their hips, exercising that right.

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

With the September 13 expiration of the Clinton gun ban fast approaching, anti-gun activists across the nation are making a renewed push to re-enact this ineffective legislation.

Congress will be in session for only 14 more work days before the sunset date arrives, and because time is short, the anti-gunners are redoubling their efforts to extend the ban. Consider these examples in Ohio:
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July 15, 2004
Sidney Daily News

18 more concealed weapons permits issued in Shelby County

Eighteen more permits to carry concealed weapons have been issued by Shelby County Sheriff Kevin O'Leary.

Sixteen of the permits were issued to Shelby County residents, one to an Auglaize County man and one to a Champaign County man.

Those who received permits in Shelby County, and their dates of birth as provided by law, are:

[Names redacted out of respect for what is left of these citizens' privacy]

Commentary:
Not only is this newspaper insulting the CHL-holders named, and many readers who have written in opposition to publishing these names, they aren't even striving for journalistic accuracy:

Ohio issues licenses to carry concealed handguns, not "permits to carry concealed weapons".

Since Jeffrey Billiel, SDN editor, claims he publishes these names because "there are many people in the community who feel they have a right to know who may be carrying a concealed weapon", why is it that the paper hasn't published even one letter from a local citizen supporting their activities?

If the paper is motivated by safety concerns (rather than anti-gun bias), and since infinitely more injuries and deaths occur at the hands of new driviers than CHL-holders, why doesn't the Sidney Daily News publish the names of all newly-licensed drivers?

The Sidney Daily News is a Brown Publishing newspaper, and the editor is Jeff Billiel, (937)498-5962.

Related Stories:
Letter to the Editor: ''No gun'' signs give wrong message

Letter to the Editor: [Publishing my private] info was 'shameful'

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

BSSA tells O'Leary ''county of residence'' means ''county of residence

Special Prosecutor Appointed to Investigate Release of Protected Records

7/16/2004
WCPO.com

Police Arrest Suspect In Loveland Bank Robbery

Police have arrested a Batavia man as a suspect in Thursday's bank robbery in Loveland.

Police said 37-year-old David Sharp came to the Fifth Third bank inside the Kroger store on Loveland-Madiera Road Thursday morning and passed a note to the teller demanding cash.

The teller complied and the suspect fled the scene in his car.

A Clermont County deputy spotted that car about an hour later and sharp was arrested without incident.

Police recovered all the cash that was stolen.

Commentary:
Although this Kroger store recently removed their no-guns signs, Fifth Third bank has resisted requests to remove theirs.

Just three days before, a criminal in Middletown entered a Kroger that had yet to remove its "no guns" signs to rob the posted Fifth Third Bank branch inside. That Kroger has since removed the signs, although the bank branch has not.

Related Stories:
Double jeopardy: Bank robber passes TWO companies' ''No-Guns'' signs

''First bank robbery this year'' at posted Willoughby Fifth Third branch

ANOTHER VICTIM ZONE ROBBERY: Gunman robs Fifth Third bank

Kroger makes it official: Ohio signs ordered down

July 17, 2004
Youngstown Vindicator

by Mike Braun

Since Ohio's concealed carry weapon law was created earlier this year, there
have been eight states which also issue licenses to carry concealed handguns
that have signed reciprocity agreements with Ohio.

Such agreements are now in effect with Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky,
Michigan, North Carolina, Washington and Wyoming.

The agreements came about in part because Ohio's attorney general has the
authority to make such pacts under the Ohio Revised Code.

What the AG can do

"The attorney general shall negotiate and enter into a reciprocity agreement
with any other license-issuing state under which a license to carry a concealed handgun that is issued by the other state is recognized in this state if the attorney general determines that both of the following apply:

(a) The eligibility requirements imposed by that license-issuing state for that license are substantially comparable to the eligibility requirements for a license to carry a concealed handgun issued under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code.
(b) That license-issuing state recognizes a license to carry a concealed handgun issued under section 2923.125 of the Revised Code."

A full explanation of the reciprocity agreements can be viewed online at www.ag.state.oh.us/ web_applications/concealcarry/reciprocity.asp

Rick Kaleda, Mahoning County Coordinator for Ohioans for Concealed Carry, said the agreements are a step in the right direction for the state and for those who support the CCW law.

"There have been several recent reports talking about the low numbers of
licenses being sought in Ohio as of yet, although the numbers are below some
estimates, they seem to be nearly in line with what the National Rifle Association had anticipated," Kaleda said.

"In the last 2 weeks, Ohio has entered into [reciprocity] agreements with [Delaware], Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Washington, Wyoming, and most importantly, North Carolina and Florida," Kaleda said.

A change of mind possible

"There are many that suggest that many would-be licensees are not applying
due to the extensive restrictions Ohio places on the practice, but I think
that many, if they were aware of these agreements, might reconsider. I know
many people who as non-residents pay in excess of $120 for a Florida license, which is now not necessary to licensed Ohioans," he added.

Additionally, Kaleda said, "Along with this change specific to Ohio, Virginia is now offering licenses to non-residents by mail, [and] the Virginia license is accepted in West Virginia as well."

Furthermore, he explained, Pennsylvania offers non-resident licenses (through the mail possibly as well), so, any Ohioan so motivated can become licensed to not only "carry" here in Ohio, but every state that surrounds (in effect, gaining West Virginia via Virginia).

Also honored

Kaleda said that the Ohio CCW licenses are also honored in a handful of other states that welcome any licensed citizen including Alaska, Utah, Oklahoma, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee and Vermont. (www.packing.org keeps a running tab on states in regards to which have signed reciprocity and which simply honor the permits, with separate Web pages for each individual
state).