The Toledo Blade is reporting that the Ohio Supreme Court has refused to reconsider its prior decision not to hear a challenge to the city of Toledo’s authority to prohibit the carrying of concealed handguns in its parks.

From the story:

The court refused a second time by a vote of 5-2 [Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton and Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger dissenting] to hear an appeal sought by Bruce Beatty after he was convicted of carrying a holstered and loaded 45-caliber handgun into West Toledo’s Ottawa Park in open defiance of the city ordinance.

The larger issue may have been rendered moot earlier this month when a new state law went into effect to prohibit local governments from enforcing gun laws considered stricter than federal or state law. Ohio’s concealed carry law does not include public parks among the locations where guns are prohibited.

The Supreme Court, however, may eventually have to deal with the question of whether the new law unconstitutionally restricts local governments’ home-rule authority to enact their own gun laws. The city of Cleveland recently filed a challenge to the law in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

While the impact of the Supreme Court's decision not to act was diminished by passage of HB347's statewide preemption provision, the fact is that there are still local laws on the books that are more restrictive than state law.

Click on 'Read More' for more.

On May 12, 2007 you have the opportunity to attend the Second Amendment Foundation’s (SAF) Leadership training conference in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky (just across the river from Cincinnati).

Buckeye Firearms Association leaders will be joining leaders of other grassroots organizations from Ohio and Kentucky. This event is free to participants and all costs for publications and lunch are provided compliments of the SAF.

We thank the Second Amendment Foundation for coming to our backyard to share their wisdom with us and help us become more effective activists.

Click on 'Read More' to read your invitation from Alan Gottlieb and download a registration from for this event.

March 20, 2007
Gun Week

By Dave Workman, Senior Editor

“I’m an idiot. I’m ignorant. My words obviously have come back to destroy my career.”

Thus was the observation of outdoor legend Jim Zumbo, who told Gun Week in an exclusive interview that he harbors no ill feelings toward the legions of angry gunowners whose backlash has possibly cost him his livelihood, and perhaps his reputation.

“I did it to myself,” he said. “I have nobody to blame.”

But in a candid conversation from his home in Wyoming, Zumbo said that the most important lesson he learned—and that he hopes will translate into action in defense of the Second Amendment in this country—is that “When the gun community acts and decides to take on an issue, this is proof positive they can make it work. I am proud of them.”

Stunning words from a man whose 42-year career came to a crashing halt within days of his ill-advised remarks against AR-15 rifles on an Outdoor Life Internet blog. Zumbo said his assignment was to write three of those columns each week, and on Feb. 16 when he came back from a long, grueling coyote hunt and had a spirited discussion about semi-auto rifles with the guide, he sat down and wondered, “What can I write for these guys? What the hell is controversial?”

He found out the hard way.

Click on 'Read More' for the entire story.