The Second Amendment Foundation has issued the following press release, addressing an issue raised on this website by Buckeye Firearms Volunteer Tim Inwood.

BELLEVUE, WA - It looks like ABC News has no problem at all with the appearance of bias, now that they've assigned a reporter who used to work for Handgun Control, Inc. to cover firearms-related stories, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) said today.

Washington correspondent Jake Tapper once worked for Handgun Control, according to a piece he wrote when he worked for Salon News. His obvious bias greatly alarms SAF founder Alan M. Gottlieb.

"This is the same ABC News that rushed to the air this week to report that Republican House Speaker Denny Hastert is under investigation by the Justice Department, when the Justice Department said he wasn't," Gottlieb noted. "This is the same news network that added George Stephanopoulos, a former top to anti-gun President Bill Clinton. Now they've got a former staffer for an extremist gun control group reporting on firearms issues."

"It is no wonder why so many American citizens believe there is an institutional bias in the national press," Gottlieb continued. "MSNBC's Chris Matthews once worked for anti-gun Congressman Tip O'Neill and wrote speeches for Jimmy Carter. NBC's Tim Russert was chief of staff for anti-gun Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and was a counselor for Mario Cuomo, an avowed gun prohibitionist. Does anyone see a pattern here?"

SAF urges gun owners to express their disappointment to ABC News by e-mail at: support@abcnews.go.com, or via mail to ABC News, 7 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023.

"Tapper has an established anti-gun bias, and for a network that claims objectivity, having him report on gun-related stories is insulting," Gottlieb said. "What if he is assigned to cover this summer's conference on global gun control being held at the United Nations? I'm going to be there. Can I expect him to approach this subject with an open mind? His history with Handgun Control, and his writings in Salon tell me his mind is made up."

"Why is it that ABC does not include Tapper's affiliation with a gun control organization in his biographical information," Gottlieb wondered. "Is this to shield the network's bias against guns?"

"The American public wants news, not advocacy," Gottlieb concluded. "We expect factual and fair reporting, not subtle spin or propaganda."

Number of CHLs issued increases over past two quarters

By Jim Irvine

The Ohio Attorney General released the concealed handgun license statistics for the first quarter of 2006 today. Ohio’s sheriff’s issued 5,546 regular licenses and 21 temporary emergency licenses to law-abiding Ohio citizens.

This brings the new total number of licenses issued to 73,692. As expected, the more populous counties continue to rack up the largest numbers, proving that concealed carry is not something only “country folk” are interested in. Not only do urban areas have more people, they have more crime. Each year the data continues to mount, proving that concealed carry is an effective way for average citizens to defend themselves against crime. If you are smaller and weaker than an attacker, it may be the only way to defend your life from a calloused criminal.

The total number of licenses issued is greater than either of the previous two quarters, and larger than the average of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters in 2005, but less licenses were issued compared to year over year data. The increase in licenses from the previous quarters may be due to the increased interest in concealed carry while the legislature appeared poised to fix major flaws in the law that are common excuses for not obtaining a license. Second quarter numbers last year increased over the first quarter, so it will be interesting to see if the warmer weather brings an increase again this year. Lack of progress of HB347 may dampen interest and offset the expected quarterly increase.
Click on 'Read More' for further details.

As part of a deal to get Ken Blackwell's TEL amendment (see: The Devil is in the Details - Sportsmen Beware of TEL) off of the ballot this November, the legislature worked late into the afternoon on Tuesday to pass a statutory version of the TEL that was purported to have eliminated some of the concerns with the proposed constitutional amendment, which politicos had increasingly come to view as an albatross around the neck of Blackwell's gubernatorial chances.

In doing so, the General Assembly's GOP caucus proved that, when it so desires, it can move legislation at lightning speed. The Columbus Dispatch notes that the House and Senate approved the TEL bill in less than 26 hours. Yet unfortunately for Ohio gun owners, it is apparent after the events of this week (the Senate will adjourn today for the summer) that caucus leaders do not put saving lives in the same category as saving political fortunes.

Click on "Read More' for the full report.