By Ken Hanson Esq.

It is the end of 2005. A time to gather with family and loved ones and enjoy the season together. A time to reflect on the year’s accomplishments and failures. A time to resolve to do better in the coming year.

For me, as we look forward to a very exciting legislative year, it is a time to look at the predictions of the two sides of the concealed carry debate and examine how reality measures up to the hype.

I will defer to anti-gun crusaders to show the examples of the soccer mom shootouts, the fender-bender murders and the valuable uses of the media access loophole, and instead focus my efforts on the pro-gun predictions offered when Ohio first passed HB 12, Ohio's concealed carry law. The examples cited are drawn upon the first 18 months of the law being in effect.

I would like to apologize to the individuals involved in these examples, their families, and anyone impacted by the incidents. It is not my intent to re-open old wounds or to gain from your tragedy. However, it is critical that the public understand how well this law is working.

Compliance with the law

An outdoors writer from Crawfordsville, Indiana has published an excellent column on current events regarding gun control and politics.

The volume of hate emails has dribbled off considerably so I think it is a good time to check in with Second Amendment issues and see what kind of vitriol we might dredge up from a few of the regular readers/cranks.

Our first item is an article from the Boston Globe newspaper published on Dec. 17 that says the Democratic Party is “rethinking its approach to the gun debate to improve the chances of its candidates in the western states.” Apparently it has finally dawned on the national Democratic leadership that people who own firearms are not deranged sadistic rednecks but instead, ordinary American citizens who vote religiously.

Many Democrats, such as Senate candidate Paul Hackett from Ohio, are also concerned about the fallout of being cast as the chosen political party of anti-gun advocates. Hackett told The Globe that gun-friendly Democratic candidates “are depicted by some in our party as a bunch of yahoos and we’re not.”

National Democratic Committee Chairman Howard Dean is telling candidates to soften their stance on gun control laws by considering them a state-level issue that can be tailored specifically for rural “pro-gun” states or urban “anti-gun” areas. This whole concept of repackaging the party first gained steam during the last presidential campaign when candidate John Kerry tried to pass himself off as an avid hunter and shooter.

As an aside, this corner would be interested to see a copy of the Mr. Kerry’s current 2005 hunting license.

We mention this news item not as an anti-Democrat rant but simply a plea for all registered voters not to be fooled by politicians wearing hunter orange, regardless of political affiliation.

It has been predicted by this corner and various other commentators that the swamps, fields and shooting ranges of our great country will be crowded the next few years with pink-cheeked politicians swinging around brand-new shotguns, chafing in new boots and generally trying to appear as if they know which end of the duck call to blow. We beg concerned hunters and shooters to remember: even if something quacks like a duck, it isn’t necessarily a duck.

It might be a lying weasel.

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

"...in this modern day and age?"

By Bob Harsanje

“Are you kidding ?!?” my longtime business acquaintance inquired mid-bite during lunch. His incredulous look spoke volumes.

“No, I’m not kidding,” I matter-of-factly replied. “What would make you think I’m kidding?

He laid his fork on the plate and cleared his throat. “Well,” he measured carefully, “you just don’t seem like the type.”

“The type?” I queried.

“Well, uh, you know. You’ve always struck me as a real easy-going, friendly, very moral, ‘big-teddy-bear’ kind of guy. Sort of a ‘Clark Kent.’”

“Yeah, I know you’ve always been a hunter,” he continued, “but you just don’t strike me as the type of guy that would want to carry a handgun.”

“And just what ‘type’ of guy do you visualize?” I quizzed.

“Well, you know…when I think of someone carrying a handgun, I think of sort of a, well, ‘redneck,’ ‘back hills’ type of person who isn’t all that educated and kind of lives on the fringe of society. I mean, come on, in this modern day and age, why would anyone want to carry a handgun if they didn’t have some sort of ‘attitude’ and would just be looking for the opportunity to use it. You know, in a vigilante sort of way.”

“Let me ask you a question. Just exactly how did you come up with that image, that stereotype? Have you thought about that?” I asked calmly.

There are more stories pertaining to our gun rights in Ohio then we can possibly draw attention to with individual daily commentary. But they are worthy of mention.

What follows is our weekly review of headlines from around the state though a pro-gun rights lens.

From details on what can only be described as an extremely violent week for defenseless victims, to news of another Congressional candidate with anti-gun backing, this article deserves be a part of your required reading!

Click on the "Read More..." link below for seven days of headlines accompanied by short, concise pro-gun analysis.

By Larry S. Moore

I’ve often said when it comes to outdoor recreation and hunting opportunities, we are indeed blessed to be living “in the good old days”. I believe that 2006 may be one of the best outdoor years yet. There were lots of issues in 2005 and many remain but the outlook for hunting and other outdoor recreation is bright.

Sadly, 2005 was the last Grand American Trapshoot held in Vandalia, Ohio. The Grand American will now be hosted in Sparta, Illinois at the World Shooting Complex. It was sad to see the world championship of trap shooting leave Ohio. Gone with it is the $14 million per year economic impact to the greater Vandalia area. For the dedicated shooters that will continue to compete, there will be a new first class shooting facility waiting in Sparta.

The Ohio State Trapshooting Association (OSTA) will have a new home in 2006. It will be the near Murango, Ohio at exit 140 on I-71 just north of Columbus. OSTA reports that the first trap house was set into place in October with more ready to move. The campsite area is cleared plus the roads and parking lot areas are graded and graveled. A new road will be constructed to open access to the neighboring Heartland Campground. The new OSTA facility should be ready for a great Ohio State Shoot in June 2006.

In preparation for this article, Moore spoke to the Division of Wildlife about its priorities for 2006. Click on the "Read More..." link below for details.

The following are excerpts from a Christmas Day article in the Lima News by outdoors writer Al Smith.

Deer hunters who will participate in the annual muzzleloader season will be prepared for a frigid wait for a shot at their prey. ...The muzzleloader deer season...runs from Tuesday through Friday.

This season has become more popular in recent years probably because modern in-line muzzleloaders are easier to handle and clean.

The most traditional hunters still use the flint lock muzzleloader. It is a more complex gun that was used during the Revolutionary War. The side hammer models that use blackpowder were used during the 1800s.

Using a primitive weapon poses a challenge for the hunter. With only one shot, it takes more patience to squeeze the trigger at the right time.

During deer-gun week, hunters who use a shotgun have three slugs available to them.

Bitter cold weather and snow are usually a part of the muzzleloader season. Thus, it takes a hardy hunter to sit and wait for a deer. Sitting on the ridge of a ravine for several hours or in a deerstand takes quite a bit of patience.

A plus to having snow is that it makes it easier to track a deer.

Legal hunting hours during the statewide muzzleloader deer season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Deer must be checked by 8 p.m. on the day after harvest, except those killed on Friday, which must be brought to a deer check station by 8 p.m. that day.

Click here for the complete article by Al Smith.

In April 2004, just a few weeks after passage of Ohio's concealed carry (which thanks to Bob Taft and the Ohio Newspaper Association included a provision allowing the media access to license-holders' private information), Governor Taft insulted gun owners by ordering the names of former prison inmates removed from the Internet to avoid "stigmatizing" the convicts.

No mention of a fabled 'right to know' from Taft. No fears that the 'wrong people' might get jobs at the 'wrong places' because this information is hard to obtain. No insistence that it's in the public good for people to be able to easily look up their neighbors or co-workers potential status as ex-cons.

Fast forward to an Associated Press story published in the waning hours of 2005, and the State of Ohio and Ohio Newspaper Association's concern for privacy of criminals' privacy is still being exposed, while the right to privacy for Ohio's law-abiding citizens is still being violated...

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

By Gerard Valentino

Liberals blame low self-esteem for a litany of social ills ranging from teen pregnancy to turning people to a life crime. They also have an attachment to failed social experiments and gun-control in particular.

High murder rates in Chicago and Washington D.C. are proof that handgun bans are abysmal failures at keeping the populace safe. Assault Weapons bans in Columbus, OH, and California are also useless in lessening the crime rate. We also know what happened when the police were unable to protect citizens of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Never before has the American public been faced with a clearer example of how criminals continued to rape, rob and pillage after the law-abiding are disarmed. The same is true along the gulf coast where mobs took what they pleased from citizens unable to defend themselves.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are Florida’s “Castle Doctrine” and “Hold Your Ground” statutes that lessen the potential legal burdens on law-abiding citizens who use deadly force in their home or in public. Once again the anti-gunners claimed mass chaos would ensue and once again it didn’t materialize (pro-gun advocates often sound like a broken record on how often our adversaries cry wolf but we’re forced to point out how often they are wrong).

If attacked the anti-gun movement recommends that you run away, submit, or simply call the police - all of which are bad options because a victim has to turn their back on an armed thug to run away, simply give up, or expect the police to arrive before it’s too late. In each instance the criminal is likely to succeed - and that seems to be exactly what the anti-gun movement wants, otherwise they would advocate an effective means of self-defense.

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

By Jim Irvine, Chairman

As 2005 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the past year.

In March we held a great fund raising event at Tactical Defense Institute (TDI). In addition to raising a substantial sum of money, we also had a lot of fun. It’s always enjoyable to meet the people that support us, and put a face with a name. John Benner and Randy Bueche and their teams of instructors were a great help in planning and executing the event. We simply could not have been successful without their involvement.

In July, we changed our name from “Ohioans For Concealed Carry PAC” to “Buckeye Firearms Association.” In doing so, we became a stand-alone PAC, and broadened our scope to include all firearms-related issues.

While such change is always challenging, the rewards are already proving that we are on the right course.

We have contacted every member of the Ohio Legislature and our numerous meetings from the campaign trail to the legislative offices have gone well.

Our reciprocity cards have been well received, with 20,000 being distributed. If you know anyone who needs one, they should ask their local gun stores. We will gladly ship more to any store or club who will help us distribute them.

We provide a weekly News Letter via email that continues to grow in popularity.

We have a web links section to help you find other good groups.

The (OSU) Lantern is reporting that the college has instituted a program to give aid to students who are victims of violence on an around the OSU campus. Judging by the story, the problem is bigger than you'll ever find in a university recruitment flyer.

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