COLUMBUS POLICE SPOKESPERSON: ARMING OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN AKIN TO ARMING "GANGBANGERS"

In opposition testimony on December 11, Columbus Police Sgt. and legislative liaison Mike Weinman suggested that HB450 would "give cart blanc to gangbangers who will threaten police officer safety."

Representatives from Buckeye Firearms Association and the Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association offered proponent testimony Wednesday on Rep. Bruce Goodwin's House Bill 450, legislation that would restore gun rights to members of the armed services or the Ohio National Guard who are between the ages of 18 and 21.

For the second week in a row, however, indications from the committee chair that a vote would be taken did not come to fruition, in either the third hearing on Wednesday or a fourth one on Thursday.

While two amendments were offered and passed in Thursday's meeting (details coming soon), public comments from Chairman Tim Grendell (R-18) have made it apparent that none of the various amendments proponents including Buckeye Firearms Association and the Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association have been backing would be offered to this bill. (For background on the amendments we have been calling for, click here.)

Time is growing very short, and your help is needed RIGHT NOW to ensure that this bill, which passed the Ohio House nearly seven months ago with an overwhelming 90-3 vote, does not die at the close of the 127th General Assembly!

By Chris Chumita

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 all worthy of mention.

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

From a man shot at a gas station to another bank robbery at the antigun Fifth Third Bank, these articles should be a part of your required reading!

What follows is several days of headlines accompanied by short, concise pro-gun analysis.

By Jeff Riley

In an editorial published on Sunday November 30th, 2008 the Columbus Dispatch agitates for "closing" private sales loophole for gun owners. Interesting timing, given a Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence-issued press release on the same date, addressing the same topic.

You can read the Dispatch editorial, which chides Congress as having "failed" to enforce background checks on "private sellers, who use gun shows, the Internet and other means to peddle their wares" here.

The Brady press release, which concludes by calling for "the Obama Administration and the new Congress to take effective action to improve public safety by requiring Brady criminal background checks for all gun sales" (emphasis added) is here.

The Editors at the Dispatch didn't have to do much work here - it's mostly cut and paste with absolutely no fact checking of the Brady statistics!

EDITOR'S NOTE: When reading the following op-ed, keep in mind Brady Campaign spokesman Peter Hamm's comment on Monday that gun owners who are purchasing firearms in advance of the Obama's inauguration are "stupid".

By Alan Korwin

Plenty of gun-ban speculation is flying.
I have this quote direct from Sarah Brady in a letter addressed to me:

"On Election Day, we helped deliver a strong victory for President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice-President-Elect Joe Biden. They will be two of the most powerful allies we have ever had."

This is what Obama meant when he told you to your face that he respects the Second Amendment. He is the acknowledged champion of the anti-rights gun-ban movement.