On Friday, attorneys for Ohioans For Concealed Carry, and (separately) for Attorney General Jim Petro, filed additional Motions in Ohioans For Concealed Carry, Inc. v City of Clyde. The Motions, which can be downloaded from links at the end of this story, mark another stage in written arguments, and put the case on a time-line for a ruling in mid-July.

The Fremont News Messenger is reporting on the developments with a simple headline: "Petro: Clyde is wrong".

From the story:

Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro says Clyde's interpretation of state law on concealed weapons in parks is wrong.

In a brief filed Friday in a court case, Petro argued that if Clyde is allowed to ban weapons in its parks, it could set a precedent that would render the state's concealed-carry laws useless.

Petro's brief said Clyde was misinterpreting the law.

"Concealed carry is meaningless if citizens cannot carry on public sidewalks and streets," it said.

If Clyde's law is upheld, it said, "then the City of Clyde would also have the ability to prohibit concealed carry anywhere within its borders."

That would defeat the whole purpose of the law, the brief said.

The Dayton Daily News has published an interview with what police say is the first CHL-holder in Dayton to have fired their weapon in self-defense since OhioCCW became law last year.

From the story:

Facing two armed teenagers intent on robbing him early Friday, Mark Hill pulled out his Glock 23 handgun, then hesitated.

"These kids reminded me of my kid," Hill said Saturday. "Then I really had to protect myself after that."

Hill fired several shots, hitting one of the gunmen. The shooting was the first by a holder of a concealed weapons permit in Dayton, police said.

Hill, 40, a lifelong resident of Dayton, said the two teenagers then opened fire on him, but missed.

Hill returned fire, struck one of his attackers, who then fled. Shortly after the 12:45 a.m. shooting, Dayton police told the newspaper, a 17-year-old showed up at Good Samaritan Hospital in a stolen Jeep. He was admitted with gunshot wounds to his leg, abdomen and arms, who were contacted by hospital officials.

Again, from the story:

The 17-year-old was with two 16-year-olds. Police said all three matched the description of the gunmen and a male seen by Hill in an alley north of Riverview Avenue and Catalpa Drive, where the attempted robbery occurred.

Police arrested the younger teens as they tried to leave the hospital. They were taken to the Family Court Center, pending delinquency charges of aggravated robbery and receiving stolen property.

Hill had been walking to a local store when two teenagers wearing dark clothing approached him. One shoved him, he turned around, and both flashed handguns, according to a police report.

The two males demanded money, Hill said in an interview Saturday. He grabbed one gunman's weapon, then let go and backed away with outstretched hands when he realized another gun was targeting him, he said. He then pulled his weapon and, after hesitating, fired.

Hill said he's a single parent of a 20-year-old son, teaches martial arts, and was robbed 20 years ago while working at a convenience store on Gettysburg Avenue near Necco Avenue — all factors in his decision to obtain a concealed weapon permit.

"I wish we all would have missed each other," Hill told the Dayton Daily News. But he added, "I want to live, too."

The Youngstown Vindicator is reporting that the fatal shooting of a man across the border in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania early Saturday has been ruled by police to have been an act of self-defense.

From the story:

Robert Flynn of 531 Cedar Ave., Sharon, was shot when he broke into the home of Kevin McEwen at 36 N. 11th St. at about 3 a.m., police reports said.

According to the police statement, Flynn was waving a gun and threatening the occupants of the residence.

McEwen "shot Mr. Flynn in self-defense and in defense of others present at the residence," the statement said.

Sharpsville police, along with Sharon and Hermitage police, investigated the shooting, and the Mercer County District Attorney's office determined that the killing was in self-defense.

Contrast this man’s successful defense of his life (and others in the home) against the experience of this Finneytown (Cincinnati) couple, who walked in on two burglars robbing their home:

Man shot after walking in on burglars

The Cincinnati Post has published another report about how motor vehicle break-ins are on the increase in downtown Cincinnati. Break-ins have jumped 35 percent in the first four months of the year in comparison to 2004, with more than 500 reported since January, according to the Cincinnati Post.

In a forum admittedly designed to blunt a growing perception that it is unsafe to travel to the area, police Downtown Services Unit Commander Lt. Mike Neville had some advice to prevent theft which is going to be hard for Ohio's Concealed Handgun License-holders to follow:

"I want everyone to feel that downtown is as safe and thriving as it really is," he said.

Neville urged the public to keep valuables out of plain view, lock vehicles and set alarms to deter thieves.

Thanks to the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Governor Bob Taft, storing a valuable (and loaded) firearm out of plain sight is not an option for the state’s 52,000+ CHL-holders.

This ridiculous, unnecessary provision has already contributed to several stolen firearms being put into circulation, and it will no doubt continue to until the General Assembly removes the "plain sight" provision from the law.