COLUMBUS ---- It was href="http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1124291121106490.xml&storylist=cleveland"
target="_blank">announced today that Ohio Governor Bob Taft will be
facing up to 4 misdemeanor criminal charges as a result of his failure to
disclose
more than 50 golf outings he received as gifts from
lobbyists/supporters.

Governor Taft has claimed that his indiscretion was nothing more than 50 or
more different cases of memory lapse, or it was his secretary's fault,
depending upon who is asking him and when. Each first degree misdemeanor
count is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. It should
be noted that in Ohio, a first degree misdemeanor conviction would
disqualify someone from holding the office of Sheriff.

Ohio residents only recently learned that a former top Taft aide and Chief
of Staff Brian Hicks was criminally charged for failing to report vacations
he took to Tom Noe's home in the Florida Keys. Hicks was criminally charged
for paying Mr. Noe less than the market rental rate for his stay in the
property and failing to disclose the difference as a gift. Governor Taft,
apparently, didn't pay anything for the golf trips he did not disclose.

Gun rights activists have known about Taft's questionable ethics for far
longer than the majority of Ohioans.

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The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that the field of Republicans looking to dethrone anti-gun Senator Mike DeWine in next year's GOP primary looks to increase to two. (John Mitchel has already officially declared his candidacy)

According to the story, a former president of Middletown-based AK Steel announced Tuesday that he's considering running against Sen. Mike DeWine next year for the GOP nomination. It his reason that drew our immediate attention:

John Hritz, who describes himself as a conservative Republican, said DeWine is vulnerable because he is too liberal on guns, and took part recently in a compromise agreement made by 14 senators on judicial filibusters.

Hritz said DeWine could fall in the general election.
"All indicators point to the fact that Mike DeWine will lose his Senate seat to almost any Democrat who challenges him," Hritz said.

"Our committee will explore the mood of our Republican Party as well as DeWine's weakness in his voting record when it comes to representing Ohio values."

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By Larry S. Moore

The US Sportsmen Alliance (USSA) was formed in the 1970s following a trapping issue on the Ohio ballot. The group was originally named the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America. The name was changed to USSA a few years ago to better reflect the nature of their activities. USSA is a national organization headquartered in Columbus. They work with a broad range of sportsmen issues. Recent Ohio issues include the dove hunting referendum and the state budget to protect sportsmen license fee money.

Two important areas for gun owners in Ohio are the bi-annual open house the USSA hosts at the Columbus Athletic Club. This is held at the start of each new General Assembly cycle. The other is the General Assembly Legislative Caucus.

The open house is an opportunity for sportsmen to meet and greet the State Representatives and Senators. Typically the Senate President or Speaker of the House gives the keynote address. I attended in 2003 when then Senate President Doug White made his now infamous statement regarding concealed carry that he did not care how big a gun is or how many rounds it may hold as long as a law abiding citizen holds the gun he would not be concerned. Of course, we all know that a short one year later, Senator White would abandon that principled statement and cave into pressure from Governor Taft and the Ohio Highway Patrol on key sections of HB 12.

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