The Associated Press is reporting that an armed robber man stole a gun from an off-duty suburban Westerville police officer during a robbery in a "no-guns" credit union Tuesday.

From the story:

Investigators said a man wearing a fake mustache and wielding his own gun went into the BMI Federal Credit Union in Westerville near the Columbus city limits around at 11:28 a.m. Tuesday.

The robber put the weapon to the head of Cpl. Charles Chandler, who was moonlighting as a guard, and repeatedly threatened to kill him, Westerville police said.

The two men struggled over the officer's gun after the robber told him to hand it over, police said. The robber demanded money from the tellers, then fled in a car.

Police told NBC4i.com:

"There was a struggle with the officer," Westerville Lt. Tracey Myers said. "He was able to overpower him and get him down on the ground and get his gun away from him."

Police from Westerville and Columbus began chasing the robber, who was last seen driving a Mercury Cougar with tinted windows.

Officials said they found the car in a nearby apartment complex on Harvester Lane. Police later arrested the suspect, who officers said hid in a hole in the wall of his bedroom.

"It was maybe a 3-by-3 space, but it probably was the height of the ceiling in there," Columbus Police Sgt. Brent Mull said. "He was able to conceal himself."

Officials said the robber wore a fake beard and had something stuffed inside of his shirt to make him appear heavier during the robbery.

Police said they have not found the special duty officer's gun.

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None of the news reports have yet made mention of the TWO prominent "no-guns" signs being displayed on the entrance to BMI Federal Credit Union, nor made mention of the fact that this all happened within a school "safety" zone.

The alert OFCC member who notified us of this crime yesterday reports that his children's school, located "just across the street", was put into lock-down as these events unfolded.

When attempting to excuse their discriminatory and unsafe "no-guns" signs, bankers often explain that there may be armed guards on duty, so there would be no need for individual self-defense. However, this is the second Ohio bank robbery this year in which an armed police officer was unable to stop a robbery or protect the business' patrons.

Only you can protect you.

IS CRIME ON THE INCREASE IN POSTED BUSINESSES? Is advertising that customers and employees inside your business are defenseless really such a "safe" idea? Click to view an extensive (but by no means exhaustive) list which documents crimes committed in businesses posted with "no-guns" signs.

"Quis custodet ipsos custodes?", Juvenal

Who will guard the guards themselves?

That is the question OFCC asked after news broke that special prosecutor Gary Nasal (Miami Co.) had failed to obtain an indictment from a Shelby County grand jury after an eight-month "investigation" into Sheriff Kevin O'Leary's illegal release of CHL-holders' private, protected information to the Sidney Daily News.

Now, people in Ohio again have reason to ask the same question, and at least in part, about the same man.

The Dayton Daily News is reporting that Miami Co. Prosecutor Gary Nasal is under fire for having approved a plan from law enforcement to use a confiscated Ohio drivers’ license taken from a woman in an alcohol-related matter in an unrelated undercover sting. Although he now claims he "became concerned" about the plan, which involved twisting a loophole in a 2002 anti-identity-theft law written by Rep. Jim Hughes, the story says Nasal decided it was “in bounds” and approved the plan.

From the story:

A provision tucked into a new law on identity theft should be changed to prevent police from using anyone's identity — name, photo, driver's license, Social Security number — for law enforcement investigations, said state Rep. Jim Hughes, who wrote the law.

The Toledo Blade is reporting that the man who was cited on Saturday for violating a Toledo park rule which enforces a prohibition of concealed weapons in city parks, filed a police report yesterday indicating the city violated his civil rights.

The newspaper reports Bruce Beatty also spoke with the city prosecutor's office and requested that the case be handled by a special prosecutor so there is no potential conflict of interest.

From the story:

Last month, Mr. Beatty announced he would take his gun to the park. He wore his 45-caliber pistol in a holster under his jacket. Police did not check anyone else at the gathering, and they gave Mr. Beatty his gun back. He is to appear April 19 in Toledo Municipal Court on the minor misdemeanor.

In his police report, Mr. Beatty contends the citation was issued under the direction of the city administration. Its issuance, he said, is in direct conflict with state law, and he believes his civil rights were violated.

Mr. Beatty contends that the city's prohibition violates the state's concealed-carry law, which went into effect April 8, 2004. The state law specifically prohibits concealed weapons in schools, government buildings, and places of worship but does not mention parks.

Mr. Beatty said there are no signs in the park indicating concealed weapons are banned.

Although the city is named in his police report, Mr. Beatty told the Blade he may file charges against individuals within city government.

Related Stories:
City of Toledo hangs ''park-ban hat'' on vague park rules ordinance

The Cincinnati Post is reporting that although (mostly gang-related) homicides continue to plague the city, violent crime is down so far this year compared to 2004.

From the story:

Violent crimes - murder, rape, robbery, felonious assault and burglary - are down 12 percent from the first three months of last year, according to police statistics released Monday for the first quarter of the year. Robberies decreased the most, by nearly 18 percent.

"These numbers show marked improvements in crime reduction in Cincinnati," said Cincinnati Police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr. "We are encouraged by the results of the first three months of 2005."

Recent stories marking the anniversary held in common a repeated note that there was no evidence crime had fallen in 2004, suggesting that one of the key reasons concealed carry reformers gave for wanting the law was not accurate.

However, none of these news reports bothered to note the following:

Dayton's WDTN.com is reporting that a Kettering woman was the victim of a purse snatching Monday evening, but that things turned out OK after a few quick-thinking citizens chased down the crooks.

From the story:

It all happened Monday night around seven in the Meijer’s parking lot at Stroop and Wilmington. The thieves grabbed the woman’s purse and then ran over toward the McDonald’s on Stroop.

But thanks to another shopper the woman actually got her purse back and police caught two suspects.
18 year old Christopher Mantel was booked into jail on one count of theft and 20 year old Jonathan Vance was charged with helping him. He also had a felony warrant for an unrelated burglary.

Kettering police say the woman was in Meijer’s parking lot and put her handbag into the shopping cart when she was walking out to her car. That’s when two men ran up. They grabbed the purse from her and ran towards McDonald’s on Stroop. The woman screamed and that’s when another shopper stopped his car. He chased down the thieves causing them to drop the purse. Police later got descriptions of the suspects and then caught them in a nearby apartment complex all thanks to this witness who did a good deed.

“I think people are generally getting sick of crime. And I think most people are good hearted and good natured that they want to help somebody or especially a woman in trouble,” said Glenn Evans with the Kettering Police Department.

Commentary from Senate District 10 Coordinator Larry S. Moore:
Yes, people are getting sick of crime and of being made victims. That is one reason why OhioCCW was passed. Thankfully the men who chased the suspects were not harmed - thankfully the suspects were not armed. Next time they might not be so lucky.

Kettering has long been billed has the "good schools, good community" city just south of Dayton. And it is a good community. However, this story continues to highlight the "need" to be vigilant and armed in our daily travels.

We continue to see stories regarding concealed carry in the news with quotes indicating something to the effect that "people just want to obtain the concealed handgun in case they feel the need or want to someday". The problem with this logic has always been - when the need is felt the gun will be at home and not with you. I hope I never "feel the need" to carry my gun because that means something truly bad is happening to me. Everyone feels safe - until that fateful moment when they realize they are becoming a victim. If they have not prepared ahead of time for that, then the only thing to do is run and scream - and pray for the best.

My Grandmother was tough with a hoe, axe, and could use a .22 rifle on groundhogs. I believe the modern urban woman has lost that tough independence and regressed as a result. Women need to become truly liberated and empowered by getting their CHL and ending their reliance on the goodness of men for their defense.

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