The Associated Press is reporting that Republican Bob Taft, one of the most unpopular governors in Buckeye State history, may veto HB347, which was passed overwhelmingly by members of his party, along with many pro-gun Democrats, on November 29.

From the story:

Taft's objection to overriding local gun laws has been clear for months, spokesman Mark Rickel said, citing as an example Columbus' assault weapons ban.

If the legislation comes to the governor, "the bill would be vetoed," Rickel said.

Contrary to the assertions of his spokesperson, we are unaware of any previous objections to the preemption statute having been voiced by Taft. In fact, just yesterday, this same Taft spokesman offered no insight to reporters into whether the governor would support the revised measure.

"It has not been a priority for the governor at this point," Rickel told the Columbus Dispatch on Tuesday.

Earlier in the week, when asked by legislators and pro-gun groups for his stance on the bill, Taft gave no indication that he would veto the bill. Furthermore, in the weeks before passage of the bill in the House last Spring, Taft made no mention of preemption when he threatened to veto HB347 if it allowed concealed carry in cars or changed the media access loophole.

Acting in good faith, lawmakers from his party removed the media access loophole provision before the bill left the House in March, and worked with the Ohio State Highway Patrol to remove their objection to allowing concealed carry in cars.

Click on ‘Read More’ the entire story.

If the media is ashamed of their biased news coverage in the days leading up to passage of Ohio's concealed carry laws, or if journalists have been convinced by the overwhelming evidence in Ohio that gun ban extremists were wrong about their "wild west" rhetoric, they sure aren't showing it.

Media reports on HB347 in recent days have been equally disingenuous, and in some cases provably factually wrong. This story will be used to document some of the more pertinent examples the anti-gun media covers passage of this important legislation.

Click on 'Read More' for the full story.

Please note: the contents of this story were updated throughout the day as events warranted.

November 29, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Ohio Senate today passed Amended Substitute House Bill 347, a sweeping firearm laws reform bill. The House overwhelmingly passed substantially the same Bill this past Spring by an overwhelming, veto-proof majority. The House voter today to concur with the Senate's changes, and the Act is now headed for Governor Taft's desk, where he can sign it into law, veto the bill (and it would return to the General Assembly for a potential veto-override), or do nothing allowing the bill to become law without his signature.

The Bill dramatically improves firearm laws for gun owners and law enforcement in Ohio, including fixes the most severe problems that have become apparent since people began obtaining concealed handgun licenses in Ohio.

Among the changes:

- Law enforcement officers are given "24/7" concealed carry in Ohio, and changes are made to Ohio law to allow our officers to better take advantage of Nationwide concealed carry under Federal Law.

- BCI investigators are now given the same firearm rights as law enforcement officers.

- Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHLs) issued under the new law are good for 5 years versus 4 years under current law. The application fee increases to $55.

By Chad D. Baus

In late 2003, when it became clear that the Ohio General Assembly was preparing to send a concealed carry reform bill to the governor's desk, Bob Taft and his anti-gun allies at the Ohio Newspaper Association interjected an eleventh-hour attempt to stall the bill by objecting to the Assembly's intent to protect the privacy of concealed handgun license-holders.

ONA member newspapers argued that "knowing who has tried to get a license or who has obtained one... is in the legitimate public interest." Taft announced he would veto the bill as it was written, alleging that Ohioans have a "right to know whether their friends, enemies or neighbors have a license to carry a concealed weapon." The Cleveland Plain Dealer praised Taft for his decision.

The Ohio General Assembly disagreed about any alleged "right to know", but in order to avoid a Taft veto, legislators inserted a provision which allowed journalists to have access to the records, but that continued to protect license-holders' private information from the general public. This provision, which has come to be known as the media access loophole, became Ohio law at the same time as HB12 restored the Constitutionally-protected right to bear arms for self-defense.

In a fit of rage, the Plain Dealer editorial board argued that the compromise wasn't good enough. "Our readers deserve to know the identities of those who obtain permits to carry their guns in public", the editors ranted. The legislature, they whined, was "demonstrating a flagrant disregard for the public's right to know," and therefore they announced that it was "[the Plain Dealer's] intention to obtain this information and publish it."

Since Plain Dealer editors believe so vehemently that Ohioans have a "right to know" their neighbors' self-defense choices and private, personal information, and since they feel so strongly that an individuals' status as a CHL-holder is a legitimate public interest, and, one would certainly expect that when a Cleveland CHL-holder and business-owner uses his firearm to defend himself and his patrons, that the newspaper would see such an event as newsworthy, right?

WRONG.

Click on 'Read More' for the entire commentary.

By Jim Irvine

Of the many praises of Buckeye Firearms Association and our volunteers this year, the one we are most proud of is, "While other groups sent money and made in-kind donations, yours was the only endorsement that brought volunteers to my campaign."

The significance of that compliment can not be understated. Volunteers are how a political race is won.

Jim Tressel might be a great football coach, but his talents would be wasted if there was not a team of players who were devoted to the work it takes to execute his game plan. Winning a game or a National Championship is a team effort. Many people must work together for a common cause, and do it better than every other team set on the same goal.
Click on 'Read More' for the entire commentary.

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Republican lawmakers and the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) have reached a deal on how guns can be carried in vehicles, the main sticking point in a bill that, if passed, will do far more to reform Ohio's firearms laws for Ohio sportsmen and gun owners and CHL-holders than remove the ridiculous "plain sight" car carry requirement.

From the story:

"I think we have a bill that the Second Amendment people support and that law enforcement is OK with," said Sen. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, which is hearing the bill.

The main fight centered on whether concealed-carry permit holders, while in a vehicle, should be required to carry a gun either holstered in plain view or locked away in a glove box.

If the gun isn’t locked away, the patrol wanted the gun in plain sight to protect troopers involved in traffic stops.

But gun-rights advocates, including bill sponsor Rep. James Aslanides, R-Coshocton, argued the plain-sight law caused logistical problems, particularly for women who carry guns in their purses rather than a holster. He also said it created unnecessary safety risks to move a gun from a holster to a glove box.

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

By Larry S. Moore

The Ohio deer gun season has finally arrived. It is a time that several hundred thousand Ohio deer hunters look forward to each year. I am certainly among that group as I faithfully schedule some of my vacation each year for deer season. Many hunters are filled with anticipation of a big buck, while others simply hope to fill a tag and have some meat for the freezer. As a concealed handgun license holder (CHL), I have been anticipating the Ohio Division of Wildlife allowing me to carry my handgun concealed while deer hunting. It has been a long wait. I am still waiting.

I’ve talked to various individuals with the Division, including both Assistant Chiefs and the Chief. Yet nothing seems to move forward. I have written the Division. Assistant Chief Randy Miller answered that letter. Well, to be completely honest, he side-stepped the letter. Asst. Chief Miller correctly pointed out that the Chief of the Division, along with the approval of the Ohio Wildlife Council, sets the wildlife laws. He noted that these laws are applied consistently across Ohio that hunting is very safe, and part of the mission of the Division is to promote the shooting sports. All these things are true and have absolutely no bearing on the allowing the concealed handgun license holder to carry concealed while hunting.

Click on 'Read More' for the entire commentary.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ohio Department of Natural Resources

COLUMBUS, OH - Young hunters across Ohio enjoyed another successful hunt during the Fourth Annual Youth Deer-Gun Season. Hunters age 17 and under killed 8,811 deer in the special two-day season, aimed at providing a high-quality hunt for younger Ohioans, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Last year’s youth hunt saw a deer harvest of 8,722.

The Division of Wildlife estimated 30,000 young hunters took to the fields and forests during the two-day season. Counties reporting the greatest number of deer killed were Guernsey - 355; Holmes - 339; Ashland - 337; Tuscarawas - 324; and Harrison - 287.

“The youth deer-gun season has really taken off in popularity,” said Steven A. Gray, chief of the Division of Wildlife. “With Ohio’s new apprentice license program, the youth deer season is an excellent way for families to enjoy hunting together. It fits so well with the whole Families Afield initiative.”

The national ‘Families Afield’ initiative encourages more families to take their youngsters hunting. This national effort is being spearheaded by the National Wild Turkey Federation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance.

Click on 'Read More' for the entire press release.

Deer-gun season opens today in Ohio and this year an extra weekend has been added, Dec. 16-17, to increase the number of weekend days available for hunting.

Cleveland's NewsNet5.com is reporting that state wildlife officials are urging deer hunters to take aim at any wild boars they might find while hunting this season.

From the story:

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said the boars are destructive eating machines that destroy crops and damage wildlife by consuming bird eggs, reptiles and amphibians.

They can also spread disease to livestock and people.

Officials said the animals have been reported in 14 Ohio counties and are spreading.

It's legal to hunt wild boar year-round, so the ODNR is urging hunters to keep an eye out for them when the gun deer-hunting season opens [today].

Click on 'Read More' for commentary on the challenges of hunting wild boar in Ohio from Buckeye Firearms Association volunteer and outdoor writer Larry S. Moore.

The Toledo Blade is reporting on hunters who are once again reminding hunters that each pound of venison can feed up to four hungry people if donated to area food banks.

From the story:

Begun in 1997, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry has helped to bring nearly 13 million servings of venison to soup kitchens and food pantries across the country.

With about 100 chapters in 30 states, including both Ohio and Michigan, the organization partners with hunters and meat processors to turn a hunter’s prize into a nutritious meal for the needy.

“I got involved in this originally because it’s a cause,” said Allen Dunlap, 39, of Sylvania, a 27-year hunter who has since passed his passion to his two sons. “I love to hunt, so why not help somebody?”

Click on 'Read More' for continued coverage.