September 6, 2004
Dayton Daily News

Senseless shootings kill 2 bystanders

DAYTON | — Derek Ali, a well-known community figure and Dayton Daily News reporter, was killed Sunday morning pushing a woman away from gunfire at a Lakeridge Court party.

Mr. Ali, 47, had been working as a disc jockey at the private party and was moving his DJ equipment to his car at about 1 a.m. A group of men denied entry became angry and at least one opened fire spraying the building, Dayton Police Sgt. Gary White said.

Mr. Ali pushed the woman out of the way and was shot in the chest, dying at the scene, White said.

"Absolutely senseless," White said. "He was absolutely minding his own business. He did not incite anything. He was not part of the problem there."

Mr. Ali's death left community leaders and community members shaken.

"It's hard to believe," said Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin, who talked with Mr. Ali as he was DJ'ing Saturday at the Neighbor-To-Neighbor Street Festival at College Hill Park.

"We have to take back our city," she said. "People, not just city leaders, have to rise up and say enough is enough. The police need our help. The days of people standing behind their doors, saying, 'I don't want to get involved,' are over."

Trotwood Mayor Donald K. McLaurin, said, "I don't know what's going on in our world that African-Americans are being gunned down for no reason. It's just terrible to have to deal with this."

"I join the mayor of Dayton in condemning this," McLaurin said. "I'm prayerful that something good in all this will come out. I don't know what that is, but we need something good to come of this."

Commentary:
This man's employer, the Dayton Daily News, has worked for years to prevent the restoration of his Constitutional right to defend himself, and they continue to rail against it on editorial pages today. If the editors wish to honor their fallen comrade, they certainly should turn away from yet another endorsement of failed gun control experiments.

If city leaders truly want to make a difference, they will speak out about the merits of law-abiding citizens exercising their right to bear arms self-defense, as did the governor of Lousiana did when a serial rapist terrorized the state in 2002.

If elected officials truly hope to send a message to criminals that "enough is enough", they will back programs such as did officials in Orlando, Florida some years ago:

In 1966, and in response to a rape epidemic, Orlando officials embarking on a highly publicized program to train 2,500 women in firearm use. The next year rape fell by 88 percent in Orlando (the only major city to experience a decrease that year); burglary fell by 25 percent. Not one of the 2,500 women actually ended up firing her weapon; the deterrent effect of the publicity sufficed." (Congressional Record, 90th Cong., 2d sess., January 30, 1968, p. 1496, n. 7) Five years later Orlando's rape rate was still 13 percent below the pre-program level, whereas the surrounding standard metropolitan area had suffered a 308 percent increase.

Every time a defenseless individual in our state is victimized, officials and the media declare that "something must be done!"

On any other day, the Ohio Newspaper Association attempts to intimidate would-be CHL applicants by encouraging members to collect and publish names has effected the outcome.

On any other day, the Dayton Daily News joins many other editorial boards in demonizing individuals who choose not to be victims.

On any other day, city officials in Dayton enforce anti-gun policies that render the citizens defenseless, and do nothing to stop criminals.

But not today. Today, they say "People...have to rise up and say enough is enough. The police need our help. The days of people standing behind their doors, saying, 'I don't want to get involved,' are over."

Answer the call. Get the training and apply for an Ohio CHL today.

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All Ohio Universal 1 Credit Unions are listed among the unsafe businesses in OFCC's Do Not Patronize While Armed database.

September 7, 2004
Dayton Daily News

Man robs credit union, lingers

DAYTON | An armed robber grabbed cash Tuesday at the Universal One Credit Union on Harshman Road. He then stayed in the branch for while, fleeing only after a teller asked him if he needed anything else.

The man, in his late 20s, brandished a weapon at the teller at 10:17 a.m., and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to Dayton police Sgt. Dennis Chaney.

The suspect stayed in the branch until escaping through the rear door after a teller asked him if she could help him with anything else, according to bank staffers.

The robber is about 5 foot 9 inches, 170 pounds, and wore loose black clothes, a ball cap with a sports logo (possibly the Oakland Raiders) on it.

August 31, 2004
Wheeling (WV) Intelligencer

Dan Trevas, communications director for the Ohio Democratic Party, said Sen. John Kerry will make an appearance at the Fort Steuben Visitor's Center on Third Street between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Abdalla also said Kerry's campaign members have indicated the presidential hopeful would like to be able to trap shoot in the area if his schedule allows.

"I know he's an avid sportsman. I'd heard last time he was looking for shooting opportunities," said Trevas.

Bob Hickle, owner of the Island Creek Sporting Clay business on Jefferson County Road 56, said he was contacted two weeks ago by local Democratic representatives to see whether Kerry would be able to trap shoot there.

"I told them 'Oh no,'" Hickle said.

Hickle said the representatives indicated Kerry wanted to shoot and use the event as a photo and campaign opportunity. Hickle said the Democratic representatives thought he would be supportive of Kerry's campaign since he is a pipefitter, union laborer and a Vietnam veteran.

But Hickle said he does not support Kerry. "I told them he (Kerry) could come and shoot, but he couldn't use it as a campaign vehicle," he said.

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UPDATE! Mr. Hickle told NRANews.com Tuesday, September 7 that several other gun clubs in the area also refused to allow Sen. Kerry to use their facilities for a photo opportunity.

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The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which is adamantly opposed to all hunting, recently endorsed "hunter" John Kerry for President, calling him "a strong advocate and supporter of pro-animal legislation".

For more on the hypocritical candidate, click here.

September 7, 2004
Drudge Report

Was Dem presidential hopeful John Kerry seen this weekend waving a gun which would have been banned if legislation he co-sponsored became law?

Kerry co-sponsored S. 1431 last year (“The Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2003) which would have banned a "semiautomatic shotgun that has a pistol grip.”

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Kerry was presented with the gun during a Labor Day stop in Racine, West Virginia.

[It is not clear if Kerry completed the required paperwork (Form 4473) before he claimed the gun. Kerry's gun bill would also ban any "gift" transaction.]

"I thank you for the gift, but I can't take it to the debate with me," Kerry told a cheering crowd as he held up the device.

Photos show Kerry's hand resting on the semiautomatic shotgun's "pistol grip."

Kerry's bill would ban millions of semi-automatics, including those with "pistol grips." [Section SEC. 2; (H) (ii)]

Opponents of the bill successfully argued how nearly all guns have "pistol grips," including millions of Browning Auto-5 shotguns produced since 1903.

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Cartoon courtesy of Jeff Riffle