Exclusive to Buckeye Firearms Association, reprint only with attribution

By Chad D. Baus

In the wake of Ohio's adoption of concealed carry reform in early 2004, the news media were searching for a reason why. Why, after they had written hundreds of anti-gun and anti-self-defense editorials, and after they had propped up a push-poll purporting to show majority opposition to this legislation, had politicians felt comfortable voting "yes"? Why, after years of opposition and efforts to insert poison pills into the legislation, had the waffling Governor Bob Taft signed the bill into law?

Their attempts to "answer" the question came in the form of "investigations" into which side made more political contributions on the issue, and how many calls, letters, faxes and emails were sent to Taft's office. Dayton Daily News reporter Laura Bischoff tried to make the case that money and a vocal minority forced the law. Her February 21, 2004 story began like this:

When it comes to political contributions, the gun lobby outspent gun-control advocates 32 to 1 since 1995, the year legislative supporters first began pushing for a bill to allow Ohioans to carry concealed weapons.

Later Bischoff added: