Reprinted with permission of Sun Newspapers

September 16, 2004
West Geauga Sun

By KIM WENDEL

When a Bainbridge man had his gun taken by Chagrin Falls police last month, he didn't know he wouldn't get it back after he appeared in court.

Now, Ohioans For Concealed Carry is up in arms because Bedford Municipal Court Judge Peter J. Junkin kept the gun after the Aug. 23 hearing in his courtroom.

"We cannot believe that the judge kept the gun when we believe he had absolutely no right to do so," OFCC president Jeff Garvas said.

OFCC attorney Kenneth Hanson is appealing Junkin's decision to the state appeals court to get the handgun back to its owner. Junkin declined to comment because an appeal of his decision is pending.

Chagrin Falls prosecutor Tom Hanculak also declined to comment. Clerk of Courts Tom Day referred all questions to Junkin.

This is the first time a judge has kept a concealed-carry defendant's gun since a law allowing qualified individuals to carry a concealed weapon went into effect on April 8, Hanson said.

He would know.

Hanson, of Firestone & Brehm, Ltd., with offices in Sunbury and Delaware, Ohio, is the attorney of record for about 90 percent of the court cases in Ohio that have involved or involve the concealed carry weapons law, Hanson said.

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

Ohioans For Concealed Carry announced today the release of two versions of a video advertisement promoting the benefits of obtaining an Ohio Concealed Handgun License (CHL) for self-defense.

The video depicts a scenario involving a woman returning to her car in a parking lot, and being confronted by an armed criminal.

"In the technology age, video productions are being utilized to communicate important messages in ways that no written statement can," observed Chad Baus, OFCC Spokesperson. "There isn't a single person in Ohio that hasn't found themselves in a position where they sense their own vulnerability. Fortunately, most escape harm. But for the same reason they buy fire insurance or wear seatbelts, law-abiding Ohioans need to give serious consideration to obtaining an Ohio CHL."

Click here to view/ download the 70 second version (.mpg)

Click here to view/download the 45 second version (.mpg)

September 13, 2004
Lafayette (IN) Journal and Courier

We typically refrain from outright political statements in this corner as I learned long ago that three people could only agree on political matters if two of the quorum are technically deceased.

While not afraid of controversial matters, I figure it is better to concentrate on our common ground rather than invite hundreds of rabid e-mails that call my parentage into question.

That won't be the case today.

Sen. John Kerry is going to great lengths to present himself as a pro-hunting, pro-firearms candidate. With even limited research, you will find this is clearly not the case.

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

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has learned that, in response to questions raised about the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation's use of its quarterly newsletter's front page this summer to promote an anti-concealed carry agenda, has buried a short "clarification" on page 9 of the Fall issue of Worker's Comp Quarterly.

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End QUOTE-

This short statement comes after the BWC refused any requests to answer questions which came in to the "contact BWC" email following the original publication.

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Questions about whether or not the front page story in the Summer 2004 Issue of Worker's Comp Quarterly article was meant to be an advocacy piece remain. The article, written by Rick Burson, stated as follows:

"Because of the risk of injuries caused by mishandled firearms or intentional acts of violence, the workplace should be added to the list of places where firearms cannot be carried."

In the article, Tom Wersell, the Bureau's special investigations/ security director advised:

"Business owners develop a clear and concise policy informing employees and visitors that carrying a concealed weapon is prohibited on company property."

"This is one more way to provide a safe environment for both your workers and your customers."

Amazingly, Wersell was also quoted in the article making an absolutely false statement:

"The reality is, there are a lot more places you can't carry a gun than places you can."

To date, no apology has been offered for this false statement.

The majority of multiple victim-public shootings occur where guns are banned, and the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation has no business offering such negligent advice to private companies.

In a recent article on the controversy, OFCC's Chad Baus told the Columbus Daily Reporter, "Now that they published a political piece, they owe it to Ohio businesses to publish a safety piece."

Clearly that article still needs to be written.

To express your concerns about this state agency offering advice in the name of "safety" that is provably UNsafe, and about their refusal to correct the record:

Click here to access House & Senate phone numbers.
*Telephone communications are preferred over email.

Contact information for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation follows:

Governor Bob Taft
Administrator/CEO James Conrad
30 W. Spring St., Third Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-2256
800-644-6292
FAX: 877-520-6446
Online BWC Contact Page

Inquiries can also be emailed to deborah.katterheinrich@bwc.state.oh.us

Related Stories:
UNsafe: OH Workers' Comp bureaucrats advise ''ban''

Bureau of Workers' Comp snub: OFCC members' concerns ''overblown''