Toby Hoover is fond of stating that Ohio's almost two year old CCW law is not something wanted by Ohioans. A SurveyUSA/WCPO-TV survey of 500 Ohioans conducted on February 21, 2006 shows something different.

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

By Larry S. Moore

If, like me, you hunt in Ohio then the Division of Wildlife is denying our rights. More specifically if you are a deer hunter in Ohio your right of self-defense through concealed carry is being denied. Arguably many Ohio deer hunters only want concealed carry so they can protect their handgun from the elements while deer hunting. Either way, the Ohio Division of Wildlife continues to say no.

Why only deer hunters? There is no prohibition for the concealed handgun license (CHL) holder to carry while upland game hunting unless you are hunting on a public wildlife area that also bans the use of cartridges after upland game season starts. These bans are aimed at safety with more hunters in the field during the upland season and have nothing to do with concealed carry.

The Division concerns may be related to perceived officer safety since many people Wildlife Officers encounter are carrying firearms. However, the fact remains that the CHL holder is no threat to any law enforcement officer and that includes our Wildlife Officers. Why is the threat only seen for deer hunters?

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The coming weeks will tell whether a national trend toward 'stand your ground' self-defense legislation goes on to shape debate in the Ohio primary race and the remaining 126th General Assembly. Ohio is not among the 22 states presently weighing measures that relieve potential victims of the "duty to retreat," a position upheld by many state supreme courts, and that instead empower citizens to defend themselves and others with deadly force, both in the home and in the marketplace. Such a measure is already in place in Florida, and is currently under review in all states contiguous to Ohio.

Initial efforts in Florida have been supported by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and opposed by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, named after the former press secretary to Ronald Reagan who was injured in an attack on the president. Stand-your-ground laws generally allow individuals to vigorously defend themselves from a perceived life-threatening situation, and in some cases grant the apparent victim criminal immunity from collateral injury to bystanders.

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Taft takes issue with 2 proposed changes to conceal-carry law

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Ohio Governor Bob Taft, owner of the worst approval rating in the nation at 19%, has threatened to veto HB347 if it allows concealed carry in cars or changes the media access loophole.

From the story:

Supporters say the bill will close loopholes and clean up the state’s nearly 2-year-old gun law, and it should pass out of a House committee by the end of March, said Rep. Robert E. Latta, R-Bowling Green, the committee chairman.

But the governor won’t go along with two proposed changes: altering how guns must be carried in vehicles and restricting journalists’ access to the names of those with conceal-carry permits.

"The governor would be opposed to any change in those provisions," spokesman Mark Rickel said.

"The position remains the same as it did two years ago. Those were two very key provisions to his approval of the legislation and he does not want them to be changed."

Taft’s decision to keep his misguided opinion on how guns can be carried in cars proves once again that he is out of touch with the average Ohioan and also that he is not a friend to gun owners.

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Support Tim Grendell for Attorney General

Gun Rights supporters in Miami County and Summit County, we need your help tonight. Republican Committees in these two Ohio counties will be endorsing for the May primary this Sunday and Monday. Grassroot efforts have already helped Senator Grendell obtain endorsements from Clermont, Knox and Geauga County Republican Parties and we must keep this momentum going. UPDATE: NRA - PVF Endorses State Senator Timothy Grendell

It is critical for any supporters who live and vote in these two counties to immediately contact the county chairman and also their specific precinct committee member tonight. Gun owners need to tell the committee members that big money and big names don't matter to them. A strong support of firearms rights and the Ohio constitution is what is important. This is why the county party committee members must choose to endorse gun rights supporter Senator Tim Grendell for Attorney General and NOT Betty "I will never be the candidate of the NRA" Montgomery.

If you live in another Ohio county, please check with the Republican Party to see when endorsements are being made for the primary. Let them know that gun owners will not accept Betty Montgomery as Attorney General.

You can Volunteer or Donate to Tim Grendell at http://www.TimGrendell.com

Related Articles:
NRA - PVF Endorses State Senator Timothy Grendell
Anti-gun Montgomery to quit governor’s race; campaign for Atty Gen

Grendell for Attorney General

Betty Montgomery: "I will never be the candidate of the NRA."

Click on the "Read More..." link below for list of who to contact in these two Counties.

Pat Wray's recent attacks on the NRA are typical, self-serving diplospeak.

Lofty environmental goals are a wonderful concept, until it empowers others to force their ideals on us all. It's the very definition of ecoimperialism when Wray and his ilk can deny anyone of their right to enjoy the out of doors, just because their physical condition or work schedule might preclude them from a 3-day, 30-mile wilderness backpack.

If Wray did his homework--instead of engaging in political diatribe--he'd realize when the National Forest Service "set aside" 58 million acres as roadless, the maps were inaccurate, duplicative and in many cases, left to local, politically determined interpolation.

When I covered the story in Southern Arizona, the maps indicated one popular road for fishermen was permanently closed in a national forest. But when I interviewed the Arizona Game and Fish Department officer in charge of the region, he couldn't determine whether it was the main road or a secondary route.

The national forest was unable to provide clarification either, so both ended up closed to law-abiding fishermen. I confirmed similar stories in Idaho. If the same holds true, nationwide, Wray should modify his "modest" claim of a 58-million-acre closure to 116-million acres.

America may be beautiful, but try and explain that to my 27-year-old wheelchair-bound daughter who can't savor the same sites with her sons that Wray and his ecoimperialistic friends can.

Guy J. Sagi
Editor in Chief
NRA Free Hunters

By Larry S. Moore

Following on the heels of the announcement that the Ithaca guns will once again be produced, Remington has announced plans to re-introduce the great American classic Parker Shotguns.

The fine shotguns of Parker were among the premier American firearms for many years. The great double guns of Parker competed with the likes of Ithaca, LC Smith, AH Fox, and Lefever in the live bird shoots, glass ball, and eventually clay target championships in the late 1800s and into the mid-1900s.

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By Gerard Valentino

(This commentary has also been published at CNSNews.com)

When abstinence is floated as a way to keep teenagers from having unwanted pregnancies, the left is openly scornful of the idea. Liberals claim that sex-education and familiarity with contraception are the only viable way to teach teenagers to practice safe sex. They argue that kids are going to have sex so it is important to teach them how to avoid the pitfalls involved with irresponsible behavior.

Liberals preach education as the answer for a host of other social ills as well, including discrimination, sexism and environmental issues.

Funny, however, that the only problem liberals refuse to attack with so-called education are accidental gun deaths among children. When it comes to guns, liberals and anti-gun groups, are unwilling to discuss how educating children can lead to a decrease in the very type of accident they use to justify their existence.

Currently, Ohio is considering a bill that would offer gun safety training as part of the high school curriculum. While pro-gun groups are quick to praise such a move as a way to decrease gun accidents through education, anti-gun leftists are already using their tired propaganda in opposition of the bill.

They claim that teaching gun-safety in schools will push a pro-gun culture on unsuspecting students. Yet, at the same time liberals claim that teaching sex-education with mentioning abstinence won’t teach a culture of promiscuity among high-school students.

The question at hand isn’t whether people agree with how sex-education is being taught in schools. It is simply a useful example of how the liberal anti-gun movement continues to fight their losing battle against guns with blinders on, completely unaware that they are becoming a political laughing-stock.

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U.S. Representative Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) recently introduced H.R. 4547-a national Right-to-Carry (RTC) reciprocity bill that would provide national reciprocity for state carry licensees. The bill would allow any person with a valid carry permit or license issued by a state to carry a concealed firearm in any other state if they meet certain criteria. The bill would not create a federal licensing system; it would simply require the states to recognize each other's carry permits, just as they recognize drivers' licenses.

Click here for complete details.

There are more stories pertaining to our gun rights in Ohio then we can possibly draw attention to with individual daily commentary. But they are worthy of mention.

What follows is our weekly review of headlines from around the state though a pro-gun rights lens.

From your comments on keeping CHL information private to upcoming sportsman's events, this article deserves to be a part of your required reading!

Click on the "Read More..." link below for seven days of headlines accompanied by short, concise pro-gun analysis.