By Chad D. Baus

Two Ohio area television affiiates have recently aired informative, unbiased stories on carrying concealed weapons for self-defense, and related issues.

On November 5, WCPO, Cincinnati's ABC affiliate, published a report entitled "Some Women Turning To Guns For Peace Of Mind", which documents a former robbery victim's progress from defenseless victim to becoming a trained gun owner and Ohio concealed handgun license-holder.

Background checks on the sale of firearms were up 4.3 percent in October, according to data released by the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

A total of 1,233,982 checks were reported for the month, up from 1,183,279 in October 2008. The 2009 year-to-date total for background checks is 11,403,417, an increase of 18.1 percent over the same time period last year.