Story compiled from two Cincinnati tv news station reports, WKRC.com and WCPO.com.

The arrest of a wanted criminal in Hamilton County has proven that background checks for concealed handgun licenses are working properly to ensure that licenses are not issued to criminals.

Hamilton County Sheriff's deputies say Lavon Murrell’s application for a concealed handgun license led to his arrest on kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges.

When Murrell filled out the his CHL application, the Sheriff’s office ran a standard background check and found he was wanted for crimes committed in Fairfield in 2003.

From WKRC.com:

Police say in November 2003, Murrell robbed the Extended Stay America in Fairfield. Police believe it was Murrell who forced a young female night manager of the hotel into a closet at gunpoint while the man robbed the business. The hotel's general manager says the girl never got over the attack.

"She couldn't take it anymore, bad memories. She was here three years, great employee. But as a result of the robbery she ended up quitting, " said General Manager Scott Keiner.

The family of the local kidnap and robbery victim tell Local 12 they're thrilled the alleged gunman is behind bars.

Hoping if he was stupid enough to apply for the license, he might also be stupid enough to come pick it up, the sheriff’s office called Murrell and told him his license was ready for pick-up, and gave him a Friday appointment for pickup. Sheriff's deputies were waiting when Murrell came to pick up his license. He was cuffed and taken to jail.

When Ohio’s concealed carry law was passed, opponents claimed the background checks were not thorough, and would result in criminals being issued licenses. In the past year, only .09% of licenses have had to be revoked for any reason, including the passing away of license-holders.

Common sense would dictate to most people that when you're wanted for serious crimes, it's probably not a good idea to apply for a license to carry a concealed handgun. So what would have prompted Lavon Murrell to do so? Could it be that he had read newspaper editorials opining that they needed the Media Access Loophole because sheriffs can’t be trusted to do thorough background checks and might issue concealed handgun licenses to dangerous criminals? Could it be that he was emboldened by the gun ban lobby’s false predictions that the background check procedure is not adequate and that criminals would be able to obtain CHLs?

Whatever the cause, good news is the result. The background checks ARE working to ensure only law-abiding Ohioans are issued licenses. No media oversight was necessary to ensure that everyone at this sheriff’s office did their job. And most importantly, a dangerous, if not altogether intelligent, criminal has been taken off the streets.

This weekend, people across Ohio sat down with the latest issue of OFCC News, the quarterly newsletter of Ohioans For Concealed Carry. Most quickly realized they got even more than they normally have grown to expect from this members-only publication.

In addition to an excellent article in the Law Enforcement Corner from Gahanna Police Chief Dennis Murphy, which was previewed on this website recently, members were also treated to an excellent article from acclaimed firearms expert Chuck Taylor.

With over 5000 magazine articles and four books published on the subject of weapons and tactics, Chuck Taylor is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Court-recognized Expert Witness and the first Four-Weapon Combat Master. A decorated Vietnam Veteran, he is also Airborne, Air-Assault and RANGER qualified, with additional qualifications in SWAT, Counter-Terrorist and Narcotics Operations. His techniques are credited with saving the lives of hundreds of people, making him imminently qualified to comment on all aspects of weapons, tactics and equipment discussed herein.

Aside from the knowledge that holding membership in Ohioans For Concealed Carry is supporting efforts to improve and defend Ohio's self-defense law, OFCC's quarterly newsletter has become incentive enough to ensure members' renewals are turned in on time.

Newsletter Editor Dan White fills each issue with original content on a wide assortment of topics related to OhioCCW, from a wide variety of authors. If you want to read many more articles every bit as stimulating and informative and Murphy's and Taylor's, please join OFCC now!

As an OFCC member, you will receive the quarterly Members' Newsletter (along with the occasional monthly news update flyer, when circumstances warrant).

Your dues contribution of $20.00 or more will help Ohioans For Concealed Carry in hundreds of ways. Our organization is entirely volunteer based, and you can rest assured your dues are not a profit-source for any individual. OFCC exists solely to benefit the law-abiding citizens of Ohio by seeking to improve and defend OhioCCW.

Don't take our word for it. Click on the "Read More..." link below for a testimonial posted recently on the CCW-Talk forum.

This is the kind of thing we are told by bureaucrats in the City of Clyde and Toledo to fear if guns are allowed in parks. The trouble is, all the gun control laws in the world didn't stop this incident from occurring. Do they really believe a "no-guns" sign would have helped keep these criminals out of this public park?

05-09-2005
MarionOnline.com

A large fight in the early morning of Sunday, May 8, at Sawyer Ludwig Park in Marion resulted in the immediate arrest of three suspects and the filing of charges against 32 other suspects.

Officers from the Marion City Police Department responded to Sawyer Ludwig Park at 3:43 a.m. on Sunday after receiving reports of a large fight with firearms involved. Additional callers reported shots had been fired. Upon their arrival, officers say they discovered a large number people had gathered in the park and fight had broken out. They did not find anyone who had been shot.

According to police, Lavaughn Cochran Jr., 30, of Marion, was arrested for felonious assault and criminal trespass. Torrece Troutman, 28, of Marion, was arrested for persistent disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Tywhon Butler, 21, of Mansfield, was arrested for criminal trespass and a warrant for US Military Desertion. 32 other people were given court summonses for criminal trespass.

Police say it is likely that more people could face criminal charges and the investigation into the incident continues.
According to a police report, the criminal trespass charges stem from the regulation that all City of Marion Parks close at midnight and the Marion Police Department "will exercise zero tolerance for violence in the city's parks".

One unidentified subject was injured and was transported to Marion General Hospital for treatment with apparent non-life threatening injuries. Officers say they also recovered two handguns and narcotics.

Click here to read the complete story from MarionOnline.com.

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Man jailed; accused of exposing himself at Dayton park

The Toledo Blade is reporting that Toledo police are seeking information through the Crime Stopper program about a robbery at a bar early Friday.

From the story:

Three men - one armed with a gun - went into Living It Up, at 1601 West Central Ave., about 1:45 a.m., threatened bar patrons and employees, and took money from the cash register behind the bar, police said.

They fled in a red car.

They were described as black and between 20 and 30 years old. One was dark-skinned, 6 feet tall, weighing 175 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and wearing a brown coat. Another man wore a white T-shirt; the third had short braids.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the Crime Stopper program.

In a similar story, the Sandusky Register is reporting today that an armed man robbed a Chili's restaurant shortly before it closed
Sunday night. Perkins police Chief Tim McClung said a man is believed to have entered Chili's Grill & Bar, 5200 Milan Road, where a robbery in progress was
reported at 11:09 p.m. Sunday. The man displayed a handgun and demanded money, and left with an
undisclosed amount of cash, McClung said.

Once again we see that in places where guns are banned, only criminals will have guns.

Related Story:
Bar owner says right to self-defense shouldn’t stop at his door