Newspapers across the state are marking the first anniversary of Ohio's concealed carry law this week. As the stories are published throughout the week, we will provide the links here, along with a highlight or two, and occasional commentary.

Cincinnati CityBeat: Armed and next to us
This article is one of the most interesting, objective, and sincere pieces of journalism on Ohio concealed carry to come from a mainstream media organization. Three cheers for a journalist who truly understands that the public journal is a public trust, and for the newspaper that employs him.

Columbus Dispatch: 45,000 obtain hidden-gun permit and Some recent incidents in Ohio

The Columbus Dispatch is has, to its credit, finally done what other Ohio newspapers have failed to do. As part of its "Conceal-Carry Anniversary" coverage, the newspaper has published a story examining the problem of criminals taking guns into businesses and public areas posted with "no-guns" signs, and investigated two recent incidents of disarmed CHL-holders being victimized because they had been disarmed by the law and the signs.

From the story:

Mark Noble was waiting for a bus when a man intent on stealing his backpack slammed him to the ground. Noble pulled his Mace, but the spray only made the attacker hit him harder.

Noble, who has a license to carry a concealed gun, wished he had had his pistol.

"When you’re pinned to the ground and you can’t move and you’ve Maced the guy and he’s still attacking, you’ve run out of options," said Noble, 28. "If I rolled over with a gun instead of a can of Mace, I think he would have stopped."

Judging by the letters we’ve been copied on, Ohio-based United Dairy Farmers recent posting of “no-guns” signs in one of the heaviest CHL-licensed areas of the state is not going over well. And why should it? The company has been doing business with CHL-holders in Indiana and Kentucky for decades without incident, and only made the decision to post signs in the wake of passage of OhioCCW. What do they have against the citizens of their home state?

From: XXXXXX Co. Deputy [name redacted]
To: UDF
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005

United Dairy Farmers Customer Service:

It is with puzzlement that I read United Dairy Farmers has decided to post signs prohibiting concealed weapons on company property. I have been a UDF customer for many years and an active law enforcement officer in the State of Ohio for the past 13 years. I have been carrying a concealed firearm in your store for the past 13 years with no problem. In fact, whenever I am there I am actually a plainclothes police officer protecting your store as I go about my shopping. Not only do the signs discriminate against law-abiding license holders, but they also prohibit off-duty police officers from entering
the store with a firearm.

What puzzles me is the logic behind this decision. Does anyone at UDF actually think that these signs are
going to stop a robber, rapist or drug dealer from entering the store with a gun? I cannot believe that anyone at UDF corporate headquarters could possibly be foolish enough to think that a sign will stop criminal activity--if that works you should consider posting "No Robbery!" or "No Murder!" signs!! The only conclusion I can make is that UDF is attempting to become politically active and express their anti-gun views. I must say that I will *NOT* spend another cent with your company as long as these signs are posted at any of the stores. If the signs come down I will be happy to go back to business as usual.

I completely respect your right to post your stores with whatever sign you choose. I hope that you can also understand that I will not give business to any company that thinks I am a detriment to their safety. This is insulting. Fortunately for me the UDF store in my town is the only convenience store that has an anti-gun policy so it'll be easy not to spend money with your company. I'll be happy to go back to business as usual as soon as UDF decides to take the signs down.

I wish you well, but not in this business of treating law-abiding customers as if they are a menace to society.

Deputy [Name Redacted]
XXXXXX Co. Sheriffs Office

UDF’s canned response, which is being sent to everyone that contacts the Ohio-based business about its discriminatory and dangerous policy, was as follows:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: CCW
Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005
From: consumerrelations@udfinc.com

Thank you for taking the time to contact our office.

We appreciate you taking your time to share your feelings with us on our
regarding the ban of concealed weapons at our stores. We want to assure
you your comments have not gone unnoticed. We have passed your statement
on to our Security Department, Human Resources Department and the Vice
President of our Retail Operations Department for their review.

If we can be of further assistance, feel free to contact our office.

Thank you,
Jennifer Marsick
Consumer Relations Representative
United Dairy Farmers
(800) 833-9911
(800) 833-1177

UDF’s canned response doesn’t do justice to letters liked this deputy’s, or the others, examples of which can be viewed by clicking on the “Read More” link below.

April 2, 2005
Toledo Blade

If he wants to prevent crime in Toledo's city parks, Mayor Jack Ford is looking in the wrong direction.

Despite having these rules declared "invalid" by the Ohio Attorney General, there is no doubt Toledo Police Chief Michael Navarre will carry out Mr. Ford's attempts to enforce a ban on concealed handgun license-holders in secluded parks and hiking trails by pressing charges against anyone "caught" legally bearing arms for their defense and security.

Democratic Sen. Ray Miller of Columbus stated last year that "there are more than 6,000 misdemeanor and felony arrests combined, per year, in Ohio state parks. Though not defined specifically in terms of municipal parks, the statistic highlights a disturbing situation and trend of violence in the State of Ohio."

"We want to be sure that our citizens feel safe in the parks," Mr. Ford said in a written statement, explaining why the City of Toledo is violating state law.

Who does he think he's kidding? Can anyone forget the rape of an 11-year-old girl behind Danny Thomas Park last summer? If Mr. Ford truly believes circle-slash signs work to deter criminals, shouldn't the city post "NO RAPING CHILDREN" signs, and be held negligent if it doesn't?

Chad D. Baus
Archbold, Ohio

All's quiet on the concealed-carry front

In the almost year since the concealed-carry law has been in effect, there have been no incidents of accidental discharge, shootouts in the street, etc., as predicted by the naysayers. When will the law director, Mayor Ford, et al, realize the permit-holders aren't criminals?

Criminals don't stand in line to get a permit or go to class for that matter.

Crime is the disease; concealed-carry is part of the cure.

Kent Snyder
Westbrook Drive

Could there be a safer place?

Regarding plans by advocates of the state's concealed-carry law to have a gathering in Ottawa Park in protest of the city's ban on guns in the parks, the mayor is in disagreement with the advocates.

"We want to be sure our citizens feel safe in the parks," the mayor said. The mayor can have his family gathering any time he wishes. I think April 9 (date of the protest) in Ottawa Park just may be one of the safest public places in the City of Toledo.

Jay S. Kramer
Temperance

Click on the "Read More…" link below to read the token pro-gun ban letter from what often appears to be Ohio's token gun ban extremist, Toby Hoover.

By Dan White

This weekend, the first annual (we hope!) OFCC/TDI Fun 'n Gun, which benefited the OFCC PAC and which sold out weeks in advance, was a spectacular event yesterday! After heavy rain on Saturday (set-up day), the weather cleared to a beautiful sunny spring day on Sunday for the event. It was a little chilly in the morning, but warmed up in the afternoon after the wind died down a bit.

Everyone said they had a great time. We had four IDPA-type shooting scenarios
set up (two on the range, two in the live fire houses), the steel plates, the knock-down plate rack, and the force-on-force house set up; giving us a total of seven stations for the shooters to rotate through. At the end of the day, TDI President and chief instructor John Benner gave a surprise prize; the slowest shooter of the day on the plate rack was given a free Tactical Handgun Level 1 training class!

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There were several IDPA safety officers volunteers who ran the IDPA stations as well as about 10 TDI instructors who showed up to volunteer their time to run the other stations and serve as bad guys in the force-on-force house. OFCC thanks each and every one of them for their contribution in making this a successful event.

In addition to assisting the IDPA and TDI instructors as group leaders, OFCC senior staff served as parking attendants, grocery & supply-getters, and a performed a myriad of other tasks that to try and ensure this was a successful event for those who generously donated time and money to attend. We had a tremendous time of meeting members.

During the event approximately 85 people carried over 100 guns and fired over 25,000
rounds of ammunition. As expected, despite anti-gun organizations claims that guns are inherently dangerous, nobody got hurt.

In fact, everything went so well that there is a very good chance John Benner will donate
his facility to us again next year, so that we hope this can become an annual
event.

Web Editor's Note: LOTS of news being made on OhioCCW at present. Now that I'm back from TDI, we'll get started on sharing it all with you. Thanks to those who emailed the many news stories on the anniversary of OhioCCW this weekend - we'll make use of the soon.