Wherever guns are banned, it can be assured that only criminals intent on harming others will possess guns. Should your right to self-defense stop at the door of a business that sells alcohol? Gun prohibitions in liquor establishments did NOTHING to help these victims:

Columbus, July 24, 2004: Accidental bump led to gunshots, victim says
When he thinks about what happened as he left a bar early yesterday, Matt Taylor said it’s like watching a movie, frame by frame.

Taylor said it was all so strange: His friend accidentally bumped into a man in the crowd leaving the bar. The bumped man and his buddy responded with colorful language. Then, as he and his friends walked away, the bumped man pulled a gun.

Three shots later, Taylor’s friend, Bradley Earnhart, crumpled to the sidewalk with his head bleeding, and Taylor stood beside him, his jeans soaked in his own blood.

Both seniors at Ohio State University, Taylor, 22, and Earnhart, 21, remain incredulous about how an accidental bumping in front of Old School, a bar at Lane Avenue and N. High Street, could lead to gunfire.

The two suspects in the shooting, Taban A. Cruz, 23, of 1409 Summit St., and Jonathan L. Bankston, 21, of 146 E. 7th Ave., have been charged with two counts of felonious assault.

This isn’t Bankston’s first brush with the law. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon in January 2002, but pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of criminal mischief. He was convicted of a separate concealed-weapon charge in October 2002.

Dayton, July 20, 2004: 'Gentle giant' killed in shooting, Two others injured when shots fired outside Majestic Lounge
DAYTON | An argument at the Majestic Lounge bar led to a triple shooting Monday, killing a bar employee who tried to mediate the argument, police said.

Naamon Johnson Jr., 28, the manager, was found dead in the club's parking lot about 2:15 a.m. Johnson, also known as "Big Dog," was not involved in the argument other than trying to end it peacefully, homicide Sgt. Gary White said.

"A person who absolutely was trying to be a peace-keeper ends up getting killed," White said. "That's the sad part."

Johnson's death was the second homicide in that parking lot in three years. City officials have filed objections to the renewal of the bar's liquor permit, but those cases are pending, according to officials with the Ohio Department of Commerce.

Two other men were also shot when a man in the argument pulled a handgun and sprayed a crowd that gathered, White said. Those men were in critical condition at an area hospital, he said.

Several witnesses have identified the shooter, who had not been arrested late Monday, White said.

The argument involving three to four people started in the bar, 9 S. Halloway St. Johnson escorted those people outside, White said. A crowd formed as the argument continued in the parking lot. As Johnson attempted to mediate, the shooter walked away, then pulled a handgun and sprayed the crowd, White said.

Some witnesses told police the man continued to fire at the crowd after he got into a nearby car.

July 22, 2004
Athens News

Road rage incident witnesses sought

Athens police are looking for witnesses to come forward in a road rage incident earlier this month at the intersection of Shafer and West Union Street.

Police officer James Michael said that, so far, the department has only one impartial witness to a July 9 incident in which Dr. Jeffrey McAdoo pulled a revolver on James Kirkendall.

As a result of the incident, McAdoo, 43, of Athens, was charged with aggravated menacing, and Kirkendall, 49, of South Canaan Road, was charged with menacing.

"Because it was so crowded, there must be more witnesses," Michael said. The incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m.

Michael said other than a woman who came to police Wednesday to give a statement, the only witness are McAdoo, Kirkendall and Kirkendall's relative who was in his truck.

"They may be called upon to testify against each other (in Athens County Municipal Court)," Michael said of the two defendants.

The two have a similar story, up to a point.

Both agree McAdoo pulled his car out of the Ohio University Credit Union onto Shafer Street, and, in the process of doing so, McAdoo cut off Kirkendall, Michael said.

Both men also agree that after they came to the stoplight at the intersection, Kirkendall left his truck and approached McAdoo's window.

At this point, however, McAdoo claimed Kirkendall hit him in the face as he punched through his open car window, Michael said. But Kirkendall claims the window was half way down, and he only knocked on the window to yell at McAdoo for cutting him off.

Michael said he did not see any marks on McAdoo's face from the alleged attack, and therefore, he did not charge Kirkendall with assault. But that does not mean that McAdoo cannot still approach the City Prosecutor's Office about filing an assault charge. Michael said he did not want to file a charge that he cannot testify to.

Both men also agree that, as a result of the altercation, McAdoo brandished a revolver, Michael said.

About one week after the incident, McAdoo forfeited his concealed-carry permit to the Athens County Sheriff''s Office pending the outcome of his case. It is the first time someone has had to do so in Athens County, and possibly the state. That could make this case significant statewide, Michael said.

With the concealed carry law only a few months old, there probably are few, if any, case law precedents regarding when the use of firearms or the threat of use of firearms by a permit holder is legal.

"This is awkward for me. Both (McAdoo and Kirkendall) are hardworking, upstanding individuals, and I support concealed carry," Michael said.

Attorney Herman Carson is representing McAdoo, and attorney Bob Toy is representing Kirkendall.

Commentary:
Obviously, all is not known about this incident, even by the prosecutors, who are now seeking additional witnesses.

What IS known is that an enraged driver exited his vehicle, approached the open window of another driver. In this day and age, such actions are almost certain to be seen as threatening.

Ohio CHL-holders should constantly be mindful of the "use of deadly force" advice offered in the Attorney General's booklet.

Ohioans For Concealed Carry will continue to monitor this case. Click on the "Read More..." link below to read how one letter to the editor writer feels about the incident.

Senators on the Committee which considered the bill, which was chaired by Sen. Steve Austria, saw fit to remove a parking lot exemption at the request of the cash-rich Ohio Chamber of Commerce. There is no place which can guarantee Ohioans their safety if their right of self-defense has been removed.

July 24, 2004
Dayton Daily News

Man's nose severed, woman stabbed after leaving packing area plant

MONROE | A man's nose was severed and his woman friend was stabbed Friday when they were attacked in the parking lot at a city plant as they left work, Monroe police said. The suspect is the woman's former boyfriend, who remained at large, police said.

Yadira Zamora, 24, and Artemio Lozano, 24, were leaving Precision Packaging on Garver Road about 4:40 a.m. when a vehicle blocked the car they were in, Detective Brian Curlis said.

Zamora recognized the man in the other vehicle as her former boyfriend, Curlis said. When she opened the door, the man stabbed her in the side, then severed Lozano's nose and stabbed him in both arms, Curlis said.

Lozano still was able to throw his car in reverse, jump a curb and drive to his residence.

Zamora was in fair condition at Middletown Regional Hospital; Lozano was treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said.