FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2005

CLEVELAND - Buckeye Firearms Association is excited to announce its endorsement of House Bill 347. The bill’s primary sponsor, Representative Jim Aslanides (R-94) of Coschocton, has again taken lead in improving firearms laws in the Ohio House. HB347 has overwhelming support as indicated by the bill's 47 sponsors.

Perhaps the most momentous accomplishment is that HB 347 is a statewide preemption bill. It ensures that firearms laws are uniform throughout the state. 43 states currently have similar laws, and they have proven to be successful and are well accepted by police. This will eliminate problems for all gun owners who have been unduly burdened by local ordinances such as the Columbus’ so-called assault weapons ban or the unjust firearms confiscation and convictions in Toledo. This is crucial to anyone who owns a firearm in Ohio.

"This bill, while sweeping in breadth, is packed with common-sense fixes that help every type of gun owner," observed Ken Hanson, Buckeye Firearms Association Legislative Chair. "HB 347 would be worth passing if the only thing contained in the bill was preemption, which is desperately needed in Ohio. The fact that the bill goes beyond preemption and addresses specific problems that have plagued the law abiding gun owners shows that Rep. Aslanides really understands the plight we are in under current law."

Exclusive to Buckeye Firearms Association. Must credit www.buckeyefirearms.org.

Buckeye Firearms Association has learned that Rep. Jim Aslanides' comprehensive firearms law reform legislation was introduced today in Columbus, as House Bill 347. The bill already has 47 co-sponsors, with more expected to sign on soon.

To download a copy of House Bill 347 in .pdf format, CLICK HERE.

A summary of the changes included in the bill is available HERE.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for a list of co-sponsors. If your Representative isn't on the list, call them and ask them why!

On September 14, the Middletown Journal published an editorial in which it repeated false assertions made by an Associated Press reporter about Rep. Jim Aslanides' new firearms law reform legislation.

The newspaper has now published two letters to the editor which seek to correct their false reports and/or assertions.

Sept. 20, 2005
Middletown Journal

I am writing to correct an assertion made in your editorial (“Weakened Taft won’t be able to block gun law changes,” Sept. 14) that Rep. Aslanides’ new legislation would “try to concealed the identities of concealed-weapons permit holders from the public.” You were also incorrect in reporting that “under the new bill, reporters could only check with county sheriffs for specific names.”

We are aware of the Associated Press’ erroneous reporting on this matter, which may in fact be the source of your own false reporting. But the truth is that this bill would in no way remove the media access loophole. Instead, the bill would make Ohio law mirror a federal statute with regard to drivers’ licenses, by allowing people to opt out of the public records provision if they swear under threat of perjury that they have reasonable cause to believe having their information made public could endanger them or a member of their family.

In our opinion, this is an excellent compromise. The media’s (and thus public’s) access to license-holders’ information is kept intact, while persons who are desperate to keep their whereabouts a secret from stalkers or abusive ex-spouses, for example, can opt to protect themselves.

The Middletown Journal has a responsibility to its readers to read the proposed legislation, which can be downloaded at www.buckeyefirearms.org, before it editorializes on something it clearly is not familiar with.

Chad D. Baus
Archbold
Vice Chairman
Buckeye Firearms Association

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.