August 13, 2004
Chillicothe Gazette

What began as a piece of equipment to grant concealed weapon licenses is now helping find missing children.

The Ross County Sheriff's Office rolled out a program called KidPrint ID that gives parents an identification card containing a recent photo, physical description and thumb print.

"This is just another tool that we could use to protect our children," Sheriff Ron Nichols said.

The ID card can be created in minutes using a digital camera, laptop computer and portable card printer -- the same printer used to create licenses to carry a concealed handgun. The parents then keep the card and can turn it over to authorities should their child go missing.

align="right">
Commentary:
Concealed-carry opponents have complained about the initial expense of this equipment, which was a one-time cost of about $8000.

Now, sheriffs have found two ways to use the machine to help save lives.

1) Arm the parents who can protect their children.

2) Provide the option for parents to obtain an digital ID.

Will the gun ban extremists still try to claim the cost wasn't worth the life-saving potential?

Click here to read the entire story in the Chillicothe Gazette.

August 13, 2004
Toledo Blade

CLYDE - Ohioans for Concealed Carry has sued the city of Clyde for its refusal to rescind a May council decision outlawing concealed weapons in city parks.
Sandusky County Common Pleas Judge Harry Sergeant granted a temporary restraining order yesterday to prohibit the city from enforcing the ordinance, said Ken Hanson, chief counsel for the pro-gun group.

Clyde Law Director Barry Bova said he had not been notified of the restraining order, and Judge Sargeant could not be reached for comment.

But Mr. Bova said the city hadn't been enforcing the ban anyway.

Regardless, Mr. Hanson said the passage of the ordinance ignored state law and that the city is going to cost its constituents thousands of dollars to fight a suit it won't win.

"The state of Ohio has already said that they are allowed in parks," Mr. Hanson said. "No one would seriously argue that someone with an Ohio driver's license couldn't drive on Clyde's streets."

Mr. Bova said he was made aware of the suit yesterday and expects to be officially served with the complaint today. He said the city didn't intend to deny anyone his or her right to carry a concealed weapon as permitted by the state in April.

"We felt that there may be a safety issue with people carrying concealed weapons in parks," he said. No one has been arrested under the ordinance nor have any signs been posted in the parks.

"They want to prevent us from eventually enforcing the statute," he said. "We're not totally surprised that it happened."

Mr. Hanson said that city officials have ignored his group's letters, e-mails, faxes, and phone calls for months. Two weeks ago, the group abandoned its efforts to contact the city and decided to seek relief in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court, he said.

Mr. Hanson said the city's safety concerns are unfounded, because there is no evidence that concealed weapons in parks are dangerous. "They've never provided any legal reasoning as far as why they're right and we're wrong," he said.

A spokesman for the Ohio attorney general's office said the enforcement of local ordinances such as Clyde's can be challenged in court.

"Our interpretation of the law is that [licensed individuals] can carry in a park," Kim Norris said.

State Sen. Ray Miller (D., Columbus) introduced a bill in May to let local communities ban the carrying of concealed weapons in parks and recreation areas. The state Senate has taken no action on the bill.

Mr. Hanson said his group used a letter campaign to convince the western Ohio village of Arcanum to change an ordinance that banned concealed handguns in parks. He hopes a court victory against Clyde will send a message to other municipalities.

"The law is squarely on point and clear," he said. "A municipality cannot prohibit what the state allows."

Toledo prohibits guns in its 144 parks. The city relies on its home-rule authority for the power to regulate activities that take place in city parks, rather than specific ordinances with criminal penalties banning the weapons, said Barb Herring, city law director.

NOTE: Clyde Law Director Barry Bova claims the city never posted signs, but a photo of a sign posted in the Clyde Community Park appeared in the July 14 issue of the Fremont News Messenger. The photo can still be viewed on the newspaper's website today. OFCC provided a copy of the photo in our website news story about the filing.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for coverage from the Fremont News Messenger.