Article Archive

Date
  • 01
  • 02
  • 03
  • 04
  • 05
  • 06
  • 07
  • 08
  • 09
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31

Ohioans For Concealed Carry PAC Changes Name to Buckeye Firearms AssociationTM

New Name Reflects Broadening of Organizational Focus to All Firearms-related Issues in Ohio

Cleveland – The Ohioans For Concealed Carry PAC announced today that it has changed its name to the Buckeye Firearms AssociationTM. The goal of the name change is to answer repeated calls from legislators, other pro-gun organizations and our many supporters to broaden our involvement in firearms issues outside the realm of concealed carry.

Founded in 2002 by Chairman Jim Irvine, Vice Chairman Chad Baus and Treasurer Mary Friscone, the PAC is a non-partisan political action committee promoting education and grassroots activism. The Association's primary focus is the election of candidates who desire to defend the constitutional right of Ohioans to bear arms for self-defense and improve Ohio laws regarding lawful firearms ownership.

"Effectively we are leveraging the phenomenal success of this grassroots network," said Jim Irvine, Buckeye Firearms AssociationTM Chairman. "Each election cycle, thousands of Ohioans look to this PAC to help them choose the best candidate on the crucial issues regarding Second Amendment rights. We felt it was a good time to capitalize on the momentum of our successes in the 2002 and 2004 elections, as well as the passage of concealed carry. There are many important issues that affect the law-abiding Citizens of Ohio. The Buckeye Firearms AssociationTM will address these needs for the betterment of Ohioans."

The Buckeye Firearms AssociationTM has adopted its new name as a statement of our determination to continue as the leading firearms-related PAC in Ohio, providing important election-year endorsements to pro-gun candidates, communicating with our legislators about legislation to improve Ohio’s firearms laws, and fighting the erosion of gun-rights in the Buckeye State. The Buckeye Firearms AssociationTM is well positioned to grow into new areas of grassroots campaigning allowing us to strengthen the pro-gun majority in all three branches of state government. Other new lobbying efforts will include passage of statewide firearms law preemption, which would serve to end ill-conceived weapons bans in Toledo, Cleveland and Columbus, and to overrule anti-gun municipalities who are currently ignoring state law and infringing on the right to bear arms for self-defense."

"In conjunction with new fundraising strategies, we have been pursuing the development of a strong grassroots identity that will accurately represent our organization to our supporters and prospects", stated Ken Hanson, Buckeye Firearms Association Legislative Chair. "While our PAC’s name is changing, all core elements of the organization will remain the same. The Buckeye Firearms AssociationTM will continue to represent our supporters with a strong voice in legislative debates, to provide endorsed candidates with strong levels of grassroots support to help them win elections, and we will continue to place emphasis on our strong partnerships with other pro-gun organizations," continued Hanson.

Along with the name change, the PAC adopted a new organizational identity, including a new logo and visual identity, and a new website that can be found at www.buckeyefirearms.org. The changes are effective immediately, and all future activity will be undertaken with the new name.

We wish to offer our thanks to our many volunteers, donors and supporters that worked side by side with us to see the passage of concealed carry reform in Ohio. We look forward to the future, and to continuing to make a difference by making Ohio a safer place.

For More Information
For more details on the PAC name change, to read about opportunities to get involved, or to make a donation, visit www.buckeyefirearms.org.
About Buckeye Firearms Association
The Buckeye Firearms AssociationTM is a non-partisan political action committee promoting education and grassroots activism. The Association's primary focus is the election of candidates who desire to defend the constitutional right of Ohioans to bear arms for self-defense and improve Ohio laws regarding lawful firearms ownership. For more information, please visit www.buckeyefirearms.org.

Main Media/ Organization Contact:

Jim Irvine
Chairman

Ken Hanson
Legislative Chair

Regional Media/ Organization Contacts:


Chad D. Baus
Vice Chairman/ Northwest Ohio Chair

Rick Kaleda
Northeast Ohio Chair

Gerard Valentino
Central Ohio Chair

Pete Brucken
West Central Ohio Chair

Joe Eaton
Southwest Ohio Chair

10TV: ''NRA Stuns City With Decision''

WBNS10tv.com is reporting that the National Rifle Association’s announcement that it was canceling plans to bring the Association’s 2007 Annual Meeting and Convention in the wake of passage of a municipal ordinance that would ban otherwise perfectly legal firearms "is a decision city leaders say was a shock."

From the story:

    "Mike Mentel and your city council has embarrassed the city in the eyes of the nation by declaring the citizens who reside inside the city limits of Columbus have less freedom and less rights that those who live outside the city limits," says NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.

    The city says the NRA knew since last December it was working to ban assault weapons and chose Columbus anyway.

    LaPierre says, "What changed is that they carried through with this ridiculous proposal."

According to 10TV, Mayor Michael Coleman, Democrat candidate for Ohio governor, says the city stands by the ban, despite the loss of a convention that would have brought estimated $15 to $20 million to the city.

As the NRA points out in their press release covering the decision, the City Council’s decision will have a negative economic impact on businesses in the greater Columbus area.