For this weekend, I want to keep people informed about events, but I’m not sure when or how much time I’ll have, so I’ve decided to try reporting events as a blog.

It’s 5:40 PM Pacific time on Friday.
I’ve checked into the hotel, unpacked my cloths and grabbed a bite for dinner.

A gentleman I met on the plane on the way out here is also an avid defender of our Second Amendment rights. He is staying at a nearby hotel, and is here on other business, and not able to attend tomorrow’s events. But he came to my hotel, called me, and invited me down for diner. Feeling bad that he could not attend, he wanted to buy a fellow patriot dinner. It was not what I am doing this weekend, but what “we” are doing in Ohio and across this great land. We are fighting for what is right, and winning. And people are living better lives because of it.

Those who have not attended a “firearms event” before may think this odd, but gun people are some of the friendliest, most honorable, giving, and companionate people you will ever meet. Their pride in our Country, our freedoms, and our rights and responsibilities are second to none.

The lobby is now full with people checking in, one with a camouflage bag. I’m guessing he’s also here for the Second Amendment Foundation’s GRPC. It looks like this is going to be a great event.
Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

Friday, September 23, 2005
(Fairfax, VA) -- The United States District Court for the Eastern District in Louisiana today sided with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and issued a restraining order to bar further gun confiscations from peaceable and law-abiding victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
"This is a significant victory for freedom and for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The court's ruling is instant relief for the victims who now have an effective means of defending themselves from the robbers and rapists that seek to further exploit the remnants of their shattered lives," said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.
Joining LaPierre in hailing the U.S. District Court decision was NRA chief lobbyist Chris W. Cox. "This is an important victory. But the battle is not over. The NRA will remedy state emergency statutes in all 50 states, if needed, to ensure that this injustice does not happen again."
The controversy erupted when The New York Times reported, the New Orleans superintendent of police directed that no civilians in New Orleans will be allowed to have guns and that "only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons." ABC News quoted New Orleans' deputy police chief, saying, "No one will be able to be armed. We are going to take all the weapons."
The NRA also pledged that it will continue its work to ensure that every single firearm arbitrarily and unlawfully seized under this directive is returned to the rightful law-abiding owner.

--nra--

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services.

The Willoughby News-Herald, a newspaper which has exhibited its bigotry against law-abiding gun owners in the past by banning classified advertisements of firearms, has published an editorial opposing a portion of HB347 that would allow battered women, stalker victims, and others who have reason to fear for their lives a way out of having their names and counties of residence published in the newspaper as concealed handgun license-holders.

From the editorial:

Why should concealed gun permit holders fear the bad guys at all? If they have a gun, it decreases the likelihood a crime will be committed. This was the primary argument proponents used to garner the votes to pass this law in 2003.

Aslanides, or one of the bill's 46 co-sponsors, should produce a concealed gun permit holder who has been targeted for crime after a list of gun permit holders was published in a newspaper. The News-Herald hasn't published such lists, but access to them helps ensure that all facets of the law are complied with.

So these gun advocates don't fear criminals. Rather, they fear public accountability. But without it, Ohio wouldn't have a concealed gun law because Taft wouldn't sign it without media access to the lists.

For a group that loves the right to bear arms, inexplicably these state lawmakers and law-abiding citizens require a civics lesson.
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants a right to bear arms. But the freedom of religion, speech, the press and to petition the government, remain rights protected by the First Amendment.

These individuals organized and used the democratic process to create a desired change. But now they want no one to hold them accountable.

The law requires county sheriffs to maintain the list of concealed gun permit holders in their county. Sheriffs are public employees and they understand the media can obtain the list of permit holders they keep.

If concealed gun permit holders can't deal with this scrutiny, they should turn in their weapons.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for commentary from Buckeye Firearms Association Legislative Chair Ken Hanson.

September 20, 2005

Toledo Blade

By Steve Pollick, Outdoors Writer

As many as 10,000 duck and goose enthusiasts are expected to gather Saturday and Sunday for the 23rd annual Lake Erie Waterfowlers Festival.

Events are set for Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area and Crane Creek State Park, 13229 West State Rt. 2, Oak Harbor, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The festival is sponsored by the Lake Erie Waterfowlers and Gander Mountain in cooperation with the Ohio Division of Wildlife and Ohio Division of Parks and Recreation.

Daylong festivities include a trading post, silent auctions, food service, and archery shooting, with trapshoots set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Ohio Ducks Unlimited. Continuing events also include dog trials by the Lake Erie Hunting/Retrieving Club, BB-gun shooting by Wolf Creek Sportsmen's Association, and fishing pond by Northwest Ohio Bass Masters, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

On Saturday the regional duck calling contest is set for noon, and the regional goose calling contest is set for 2 p.m., both sponsored by Gander Mountain. The corresponding junior contests are set for the same hours on Sunday. Hayrides through Magee and the adjoining Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge are set hourly, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting, each day.

The Maumee Bay Carvers have set a decoy contest for Sunday, registration 8 a.m., singles judging at 10 a.m., rigs at 11 a.m., freestanding at 11:30 a.m., and working class at 1 p.m.

For duck and goose calling call Bob Chaplin 216-731-5208; for retriever trials, Scott Denham, 419-836-8516; for decoys, Bob Lund, 419-874-3671, and trapshooting Steve Oneail, 419-882-9548. Trading post chairman is Paul Kochanski, Jr., 419-691-8151.