The Associated Press is reporting that Toby Hoover, who often appears to be a one-woman show at the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, is asking Ohio newspapers to drop classified ads from private gun sellers.

From the story:

The Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence has written letters to Ohio's approximately 80 daily newspapers and followed up with calls to many of them. At least six newspapers ban classified ads sold by unlicensed dealers or have other restrictions, and about 10 are considering such bans, said Toby Hoover, coalition director.

A supporter of gun rights questions why dealers are being singled out when newspapers publish ads for other businesses where illegal activity could flourish. He also wondered how effective the effort would be. Few gun classifieds appear in newspapers, according to Frank Deaner, director of the Ohio Newspaper Association.

"What's next?" asked Chad Baus, spokesman for Ohioans for Concealed Carry. "Shall we ban the printing press or color printers because some use them to counterfeit currency, or the typewriter because the Unabomber used it to write his letters?"

The campaign against the ads was started by Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence after a felon under a restraining order bought a gun in 2003 through a classified ad in the Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune. He shot and killed his estranged wife the same day, police said. They said the man would have failed a federal background check to purchase a gun.

Actually, as writer John McCarthy was informed during his preparations for this story, and as campaign advocates report on their website, this effort can be traced back at least to 2001. And in all that time, only 22 newspapers have signed on to the effort, an average of about 4 per year. For gun grabbers to claim victory at getting a handful of newspapers each year to adopt an anti-gun policy is like Toby Hoover claiming she is a good saleswoman because she sold a Buckeye t-shirt in the Horseshoe.

Again, from the story:
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Kevin Cooper, publisher of The Ironton Tribune, said a letter from the Ohio Coalition played a part in the newspaper's decision to stop accepting classifieds for firearms a few months ago.

"We didn't receive a lot of them (ads) but didn't want it on our conscience if one is used in a crime," Cooper said.

The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Cincinnati Post stopped accepting ads from unlicensed dealers around the beginning of the year, said Mary Lark, classified telesales center manager. The newspapers had published few classifieds for guns.

Lark said a couple of callers objected to the policy, but the criticism quickly died down. A bigger test will come with the fall hunting season, when gun sales usually increase, she said.

The Columbus Dispatch is reviewing its policy after receiving a letter from gun-control advocates, said Michael F. Curtin, vice chairman and associate publisher.

"Our standard policy over the years has been to accept ads from most legally established entities and not accept ads from entities that are not lawful," Curtin said.

To see more of the comments OFCC’s Chad Baus provided to McCarthy as he prepared for this story, click on the “Read More…” link below.

Perhaps United Dairy Farmers needs to start posting “no-knives” signs to match their “no-guns” signs, since UDF Director of Security John W. Osborne is under the impression signs can keep UDF patrons safe and employees safe.

Case # 050434722 Title Robbery
Report # 050434722.1 Subject 450 - Robbery
Location 2124 W Mound St
City Columbus Zone 3
Precinct 19 District 191
Occurred 5/24/2005 12:05:49 AM
Reported By Officer Cormack Badge 1129

Report Narrative
OFFICER RESPONDED TO THE PLACE OF OCCURRENCE ON THE REPORT THAT THE
LISTED OFFENDERS TOOK THE LISTED PROPERTY AND DISPLAYED A KNIFE.

Property Item #1 Beer Manufacturer Model BUDWISER LITE Description Value CASES,BOTTLES $18.00

Victim #1 Business Name UNITED DAIRY FARMERS Address 2124 W Mound St Columbus, OH 43223

Contact information for Ohio-based United Dairy Farmers is as follows:

United Dairy Farmers
Robert Lindner Jr., President
3955 Montgomery Rd.
Cincinnati,Ohio 45212
www.udfinc.com

Phone: 1-800-833-9911
Email: consumerrelations@udfinc.com

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Man charged after two UDF robberies and high-speed chase

"No-guns'' UDF robberies continue

Open letter United Dairy Farmers: John Osborne “not entitled to his own facts”

Two more ''no-guns'' UDFs suffer armed robberies

Last week: Five Ohio stores in ''no-guns'' UDF chain robbed!

UDF bans CHL - Tri-state customers told to stay out when armed

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that State Auditor Betty D. Montgomery, who has voiced her personal opposition to an Ohio which allows law-abiding citizens to bear arms for self-defense, says she has the backing of 38 Republican county sheriffs in the race for GOP gubernatorial primary in 2006.

From the story:

Standing in front of 23 sheriffs in uniform at the Statehouse, Montgomery, a former two-term attorney general, said the support from law enforcement helps make her the best-positioned candidate to win the governor’s race next year.

In recent weeks, Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell has been claiming front-runner status in the GOP primary, while Attorney General Jim Petro has been touting his support among elected GOP officials in Franklin and other counties.

The sheriffs backing Montgomery account for 70 percent of the GOP sheriffs statewide, including those in Delaware, Licking, Madison and Union counties, Montgomery’s campaign said.

"I’ve drank a lot of their stale coffee and listened to some pretty bad jokes," Montgomery quipped.

Ouch. Does it sound to anyone else like she put up with a bunch of people she doesn’t like to be around just to buy their support?

Related Stories
Anti-self-defense GOP candidate picks up dubious endorsement

2nd Amendment among Betty’s website ''keywords'', but content nonexistent

Betty Montgomery to OFCC Coor.: No CCW because of ''dastardly'' attacks on cops

Letter to OFCC: Montgomery confronted at Republican meeting over anti-CCW stance

May 25, 2005
Port Clinton News Herald

Replying to your May 11 article of banning guns from parks.

A citizen who has obtained a license to legally carry a concealed handgun may be your neighbor, friend or family member and has accepted the responsibilities associated with the license and is an ally of law enforcement.

Would a park be a safer place if it were illegal to carry a concealed handgun? Probably not.

Common sense tells us the legally licensed would be the only ones to comply.

Nefarious persons will continue to carry weapons where and when they choose in spite of all the laws governments impose.

Limiting the places a handgun can be legally carried is exactly what the criminal wants.

Carl Sorgen
Port Clinton

Related Stories:
LTE: Banning guns in city parks makes sense

Editorial boards' collective howl over recent Clyde developments earns reply

The Mansfield News Journal is reporting that officers arrested a 38-year-old man who was under house arrest on burglary charges Tuesday night.

From the story:

Gregory Sutton of 168 Western Ave. had been out on bond pending aggravated burglary charges.

Mansfield Police Department Patrolman Dave Scheurer said Sutton still had an electronic monitoring bracelet around his ankle at the time of arrest.

A 40-year-old man said he watched Sutton walk away from his detached garage in the 100 block of Rae Avenue. The man reported Sutton had a crowbar and his garage door was pried open. He also said Sutton ran when confronted.

Scheurer said officers apprehended Sutton after a short chase, and found a significant amount of jewelry. He said several gold and silver rings, bracelets, necklaces and three boxes of earrings were found on Sutton. All of the items were turned over to the Crime Lab. Officers charged Sutton with burglary, a fifth-degree felony.

According to the newspaper, Sutton was arrested in February on aggravated burglary charges after allegedly committing three burglaries.