OFCC also announces move of corporate account to bank more friendly to self-defense rights

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has announced that it is moving the Tony Gordon Memorial Fund, as well as OFCC's own corporate bank accounts, to banks which do not restrict Ohioans' constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense.

At the preference of his family, the Tony Gordon Memorial Fund was created at Fifth Third bank last year, to benefit the 2 year-old daughter and 13-year old nephew of Dayton's James A. "Tony" Gordon. Tony, 27, died on Wednesday, August 6, 2003 after being shot during an attempted carjacking.

Although OFCC advocates on behalf of all victims of crime, what brought the organization special concern in Tony's case was the manner in which he was victimized. According to Lt. John Huber, Dayton Police department, Tony was killed while trying to "drive away" from his attacker "and was shot for it." For months prior to Tony's tragic death, Ohio State Highway Patrol bureaucrats had been emailing concerned citizens, stating that "the fundamental nature of a motor vehicle" allows persons who are victimized to "drive away from an attacker."

There was a second reason for which Tony's victimization deserved special attention: his 13-year-old nephew was a passenger in the car. At the time Tony was attacked, Ohio concealed carry had been stalled for months because Gov. Bob Taft was insisting that any concealed carry bill he sign include a lockbox provision, which would force persons in vehicles with minor occupants to lock up their firearms, and render them useless in the event of an attack. That provision was eventually defeated.

Unfortunately for Fifth Third bank's Ohio customers, the corporation has recently issued an order for discriminatory signs be posted in all Ohio branches barring concealed handgun license-holders. Not only does this make it difficult for many people to contribute to Tony's fund, but it also requires that they risk entry into a defenseless victim zone in order to do so. The Tony Gordon Memorial Fund is being moved to Bank One, which does not post discriminatory signs.

"As we approach the one year anniversary of the loss of Tony, it is a slap in the face for his family to see these signs, especially when their customer service personnel admit they are not posted at Fifth Third in other concealed carry states," said Chad Baus, OFCC spokesperson. "Concealed carry was illegal when Tony was shot, and the Gordons know, tragically more than most, that gun prohibitions do not prevent crime."

Tony's killers have never been found, and the Gordon family have been disappointed by the lack of media coverage given his memorial fund. "Maybe if we'd have come out blaming the guns, Dayton's newspapers and television stations would have been more willing to talk about it," said Tony's mother, Phyllis. The Gordons participated in several open carry 'Defense' Walks last year, which have been credited for motivating the legislature to act in the wake of a mixed Supreme Court ruling on the subject.

OFCC also announced that it has moved its corporate bank accounts from First Merit bank, which posts "no-guns" signs, to National City Bank.

"According to the FBI, Ohio has one of the highest bank robbery rates in the nation. The Ohio Banker's League is distributing instructions on how banks can ban CHL-holders. But does anyone think bank robbers will honor the signs?", OFCC President Jeff Garvas asked rhetorically. "Already in Ohio, at least ten different bank robberies have occurred when a robber walked right past Fifth Third and First Merit "no-guns" signs to commit their crimes."

To date, at least 11 major national chains and more than 100 other businesses (including several banks) have removed their signs and opened their doors to Ohio Concealed Handgun License-holders.

Checks should be made out to "Phyllis Jean Gordon, Dayton, Ohio" and may be deposited at any Bank One location, mailed to: Bank One, 260 East Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, Dayton, OH 45324. To make a secure online donation, please visit www.ohioccw.org and click on Tony's picture.

Anyone with information about Tony's murder is asked to call Dayton police at 333-COPS or Sgt. Gary White at 333-1190.

UPDATE! This story was picked up on August 9 by three Green County daily newspapers.

On January 15, 2004 Cleveland Plain Dealer Editor Doug Clifton stated the following in his very first weblog:

"The "how to reach us" box on 2A lists e-mail addresses and phone numbers for senior editors and similar information appears at the bottom of every staff produced story. Those devices make the communication more personal and more immediate. Some times it's so personal and so immediate you can feel its heat. In the last week or so most of the heat was generated by gun rights advocates who took exception to our announced intent to publish the names of those licensed to carry a concealed weapon."

Despite the "heat" generated, the Plain Dealer has followed through on its promise to violate the privacy of thousands of people who have broken no laws, violated no other persons' rights, and who simply wish to exercise their constitutional right to self-defense.

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has learned that the editors of the Cleveland Plain Dealer have begun publishing a names of concealed handgun license-holders in Cuyahoga Co. and five surrounding counties. Three counties, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga & Erie, were published today, and three more will be published tomorrow.

Four other newspapers have already published such lists - one of which is now under investigation for having published information protected by the law, a felony. The Plain Dealer is the first to publish the lists online.

The Plain Dealer was one of the first to publish its intention to abuse the media access privilege, granted after Gov. Taft insisted that reporters could act as a check and a balance to insure that licenses were being issued appropriately.

January 9: "Since Taft chooses to hide behind journalists on this vital public-records matter, it is this newspaper's intention to obtain this information and publish it. Our readers deserve to know the identities of those who obtain permits to carry their guns in public. We hope other news organizations will do the same in their communities."

January 12: "This little showdown came about because one of the new law's provisions prohibits the general public that would be you from finding out who is purchasing a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Only journalists are allowed that information. So, that is exactly what we intend to do. We will find out who bought the permits to carry concealed weapons and then let you know, too."

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The editor of the Cleveland believes in open records. Thus he should certainly have no problem with OFCC publishing his home address and telephone number:

Douglas Clifton
19 Shoreby Dr.
Cleveland, OH 44108-1161
Tel.: (216) 761-6577

For a map to his half-million dollar home, click here.

Clifton paid $550,000 for the house in 1999. He and his wife Peg reside there.

According to his bio at the National Center for the Courts and Media, Clifton is originally from Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Dowling College in Long Island, with a political science degree. He and Peg have two adult children and two grandchildren.

Rep. James Aslanides (R-Coshocton), the bill's sponsor, said in conference committee and during a short floor speech that he would lead an effort to roll back the media access if the "privilege" is abused.

"If they abuse the privilege, we can cause them to lose the privilege," he declared, pointing out that the Pennsylvania Legislature struck a similar provision after a newspaper published a list of permit holders.

Sen. Steve Austria seconded this warning, adding that publishing the names of license-holders would be the exact kind of abuse they're referring to, since publishing these names would threaten the safety of the very men and women who have chosen to bear arms for self-defense.

"I don't think we need to worry about journalists doing their job," state
Sen. Marc Dann, a Youngstown area Democrat, told Mr. Aslanides.

Rep. Aslanides has already expressed interest in modifying the law to correct this abuse. Sens. Austria and Dann have not, as far as we are aware, provided public comment in the wake of these newspapers' actions. All three men are up for re-election this November.

It is time, honorable legislators - it is past time.

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July 26, 2004
Sandusky Register

When Ohio activated a concealed carry law for guns April 8, opponents of the measure painted visions of aBuckeyestatecitizemy embracing the wild West mentality of shoot -'em ups in the streets...

Now the law is in place and it's clear:
. Permit applications have not reached projected estimates.
. Gun violence in Ohio hasn't markedly increased.
.There are now efforts to fine-tune the law, rather than toss it.
.The state's'highest court recently didn't strike down the new law:
. Nobody is calling this "Dodge City"... yet.

So it's time to take a collective deep breath and take a hard look at concealed carry in
our state.

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