Seven weeks and counting: Public information requests for Mayor Jackson's "proof" of need for Bill go unanswered

By Ken Hanson

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is attempting to bring big-city, liberal gun control to a town near you. HB354, written by Mayor Jackson’s law department, was introduced October 16, 2007 by Rep. Williams and Rep. Boyd. Proponents of this Bill scream the typical “It is for the children!” mantra while hoping no one reads it.

A reading of the Bill shows Mayor Jackson is up to his old gun-banning tricks. This Bill has nothing to do with addressing the non-existent problem of juveniles walking around with guns and everything to do with banning guns and holding gun owners liable for the criminal acts of third parties.

Let’s start by examining what this Bill allegedly does. When first announced, Mayor Jackson lamented “We need action now and we are asking for swift enactment of this legislation so that we can begin to take guns out of the hands of our children and make our community safer.”

Needless to say, we at Buckeye Firearms Association were shocked to find out that Cleveland apparently has a problem with “children” walking around with guns and the city is powerless to do anything about it. Confused, we immediately submitted the following Public Records Request:

1. Copies of the research conducted by Mayor Jackson’s staff, as referred to in the press release.

Coshocton Tribune:
Wild turkey numbers up 7 percent

Ohio hunters increased their wild turkey harvest by nearly 7 percent during the state's 12th annual fall gun-hunting season that opened in 37 counties on Oct. 13 and ended Oct. 28, according to preliminary figures released by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Preliminary total showed 1,077 birds harvested this year, as opposed to last year's preliminary gun-season total of 1,010 birds.

The top 10 counties this year were perennial leader Ashtabula (83), Guernsey (62), Trumbull (54), Coshocton (47), Columbiana and Brown (41), Jackson (40), Clermont (38) and Ashland, Gallia, and Tuscarawas (36).

In other wildlife news, muzzleloader hunters took 273 deer during last week's early muzzleloader deer hunts.

...There's still time for hunters to take advantage of the fall season and a good wild turkey population. The archery-only portion of the wild turkey hunting season began Oct. 29 and will run through Nov. 25.

Toledo Blade: Young hunters take a shot at pheasants

Nearly 140 young hunters in Wood and Seneca counties were among more than 1,000 youths statewide who received special attention during the Ohio upland game youth season over the weekend.

They were the beneficiaries of special annual pheasant hunts by local chapters of Pheasants Forever, the nationally known habitat conservation organization.

"Everything went fine," summed Lou Best, coordinator of the 13th annual hunt conducted for 90 young hunters by the Wood/Lucas Chapter of PF. "Most of them saw something, even in the rain," said Best, adding that the hunters averaged a pheasant apiece. The hunt was based at the Wood County Fairgrounds in Bowling Green.

...In related news, rabbits and pheasants will be fair game statewide come Friday for all licensed hunters, and bobwhite quail season will be open in 16 southern counties.

In northwest Ohio, hunters should find rabbit numbers to be up somewhat from a year ago, according to Scott Butterworth, wildlife management supervisor for Ohio Wildlife District 2.

...For pheasants, find private plots enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, and get permission to hunt there for optimum chances for wild birds. Otherwise, know that the state will be stocking birds on select public hunting areas, including seven in northwest Ohio, on Thursday, on Nov. 9, and again on Nov. 21, the day before Thanksgiving. A list of stocked areas is posted online at www.ohiodnr.com.

By Jim Irvine

The city of Cleveland has been award a 5.9 Million Dollar Federal grant that will be used in a multi-city effort to reduce violent and gun related crime. A major aspect of the effort will be a mobile National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) linking all confiscated guns in the target area and related crimes across multiple jurisdictions and use BATF trace data to help identify illicit sources of firearms.

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Editors note: Buckeye Firearms is a non-partisan PAC focused on the sole issue of firearms rights. We are aware that most people have many issues that are important to them. The same political principles that apply to firearms, apply to other issues of importance, and the lessons apply equally to both political parties and all Ohio counties. We urge you to contact your local party and get involved. Don’t just vote for a candidate on the ballot; help decide which candidate will be on the ballot.

Coshocton Tribune:
Wild turkey numbers up 7 percent

Ohio hunters increased their wild turkey harvest by nearly 7 percent during the state's 12th annual fall gun-hunting season that opened in 37 counties on Oct. 13 and ended Oct. 28, according to preliminary figures released by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Preliminary total showed 1,077 birds harvested this year, as opposed to last year's preliminary gun-season total of 1,010 birds.