Firearms Industry Reminds Congress to Respect Second Amendment Rights

Responding to Attorney General Eric Holder's comment Wednesday that the Obama Administration will attempt to reinstate a ban against semi-automatic rifles, the National Shooting Sports Foundation reminded Congress and all Americans that such a ban would cause jobs to be lost in a difficult economy, have no effect on reducing crime and would deprive millions of law-abiding sportsmen and gun owners of their Constitutional right to own the firearm of their choice.

Editor's Note: The following commentary was published as a follow-up to the article published on this website here.

By Jim Shepherd

[Recently], we reported that Canadian authorities had sent word of a United States State Department proposal that would ban several ammo calibers sale by United States companies to Canada. It's safe to say that the story kicked off quite a storm on both sides of the border.

In Canada, calls to their Parliament protested the idea that whole classes of ammo could, effectively, be stopped at the border. Here in the US, it taught me to be a good bit more exact with the concepts of import and export. The intent of the story was simple - to let our readers know the United States Department of State was considering a ban on the export of US ammo in several calibers to Canada.

Although the .50 BMG, 7.62 x39mm Soviet, 7.61 x51 NATO, .308 Winchester, 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington are considered by some to be purely military rounds, they are, in fact, very effective for hunting anything from varmints to polar bears. The US State Department, however, seemed to be trying to use the military application of those rounds and classify them as for military sales only. Technically, it's not a "gun ban" or even an "ammo ban" but a "reclassification" - but the effect would be the same. Those calibers of ammo would be restricted export items for American companies.

By Chad D. Baus

Attorney General Eric Holder has just confirmed what pro-gun activists warned of before Election Day - the Obama administration is going to try to ban your guns.

Editors Note: District Open Houses on Sunday March 1 provide an opportunity to give feedback on proposed moves. For all the regulation changes and Open House information click here.

By Larry S. Moore

The Ohio Division of Wildlife is proposing moving the muzzle loading season for deer. It is good to question the status quo. I enjoy a good debate and applaud the Division biologists for examining alternatives. But I believe the Division is missing the opportunity to leave muzzle loading season alone, for some very valid reasons.

Editor's Note: The following commentary was published by The Outdoor Wire on February 13. A follow-up article, published days later, will follow tomorrow.

By Jim Shepherd

Despite the fact that tomorrow's supposed to be the day to show love and affection, it looks like Canadian firearms enthusiasts aren't much in love with parts of the government right now.

The reason? A report making the rounds in Canada that says officials have it on "good authority" that our State Department may be on the verge of cutting off all imports of certain calibers of ammunition.

Ammos listed for this rumored ban include the .50BMG, 7.62x39mm Soviet, 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington. Additionally, we're hearing that an expansion of this proposed ban might be broadened to include the 6.8mm SPC, 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP- among others.

In other words, State Department officials may be floating a trial balloon to see if there are howls of protest, or whimpers of compliance. Canadian elected officials who have directed this information to me say the move seems to be motivated by "emboldened" anti-gun officials who think they have a kindred spirit in President Obama.

The Athens News is reporting that Athens County, Ohio is a part of the growing national trend toward increasing firearms purchases.

The story notes that while other businesses are tanking in the shaky economy, the firearms industry is growing rapidly due to widespread uncertainty about the markets and future legislation.

Buckeye Firearms Foundation, Inc., an Ohio not-for profit foundation, filed a lawsuit today in the Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County, Ohio seeking a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction to stop the City of Cleveland from prosecuting law-abiding gun owners under local ordinances that restrict gun ownership and concealed carry (CCW). The lawsuit also asks the Court to declare 20 different local ordinances unconstitutional on the grounds of state preemption of firearm laws.

By Chad D. Baus

While it obviously wasn't the intent of Dayton Daily News reporter Laura Bischoff, whose most memorable gun-related story came after passage of Ohio's concealed carry law in 2004, when Bischoff suggested that the "gun lobby" bought the law by outspending gun control extremists, a pair of stories on the subject of out-of-state licenses are serving to expose the need for a national concealed handgun license reciprocity law to many who are not aware of the trials gun owners face every day in trying to follow the law.

Application Deadline - March 2nd

Just a reminder that the National Rifle Association is currently taking applications from outstanding high school sophomores and juniors to participate in the 13th Annual Youth Education Summit July 6th-12th. Don't miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity!

Approximately 40 students are chosen to take part in this expense-paid, seven-day event in Washington D.C. The summit encourages young adults to become active and knowledgeable U.S. citizens by learning about The Constitution and Bill of Rights, the federal government, and the importance of being active in civic affairs.

Activities on this year's schedule include:

By Chad D. Baus

The list of abuses of power by city and county officials in Cleveland is long and distinguished - so much so that each individual report barely raises eyebrows anymore.

For example, 23 years after telling an employee (whom he was dating) how to avoid a subpoena so she wouldn't have to testify against him in a sexual harassment suit, Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul is finally being investigated, and could face criminal charges.

McFaul has been under fire since the beginning of the year over questions of improper fund-raising activities, including having deputies sell tickets for his fund-raisers while on county time, and for doing special favors for friends and relatives. In fact, a recent Cleveland Plain Dealer report about charges of nepotism concerning the anti-concealed carry Sheriff highlights the law man's hypocrisy on guns.