By Jim Irvine

We are often thanked for all we do to secure firearms rights in Ohio, but this Memorial Day, it's important to remember all those who have come before us, and won all of the big battles. It is only through their sacrifice and perseverance that we are able to fight today's battles.

While it's easy to get caught up in the moment of your own struggles, our lives as we know them would not be possible without the many victories of our veterans. Again and again they have paid the ultimate sacrifice to secure our freedom.

by Alan Gottlieb and Dave Workman

Adhering to a pattern of behavior that has developed over the years, a tiny contingent of gun prohibitionists paraded outside of the Charlotte Convention Center while the National Rifle Association was hosting its record-breaking members' meeting, but they remained only long enough to get some camera time with local news crews.

Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, came to that North Carolina city in order to grab some face time and get his name in the local newspapers. Where the NRA can pull more than 70,000 members, the Brady bunch could barely muster two dozen protesters to parade around for perhaps an hour, probably less, and then leave satisfied that the 5 o'clock news would carry their images.

The Ohio Senate has passed Senate Bill 239, which will allow citizens who hold a valid concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry a firearm in restaurants. To do so, license holders may not consume any alcohol and must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to OpenCarry.org, 42 states (including every state that borders Ohio) allow non-drinking license holders to carry firearms in restaurants.

The bill also reduces burdensome restrictions regarding how a license holder must transport a firearm in a car. Currently, Ohio is the only state to place such complex limitations on license holders.

The Senate also passed Senate Bill 247, which seeks to align Ohio law with federal statutes regarding the restoration of rights to Ohio firearms purchasers.

Ken Hanson, Legislative Chair of Buckeye Firearms Association, said, "These bills addresses three important issues facing Ohio gun owners and concealed carry license holders and seek to align Ohio law with federal law and the laws of our surrounding states."

Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) is delighted to report that the Senate Criminal Justice Committee today passed two vital bills.

SB239 would allow citizens who hold a valid concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry a firearm in restaurants. To do so, license holders may not consume any alcohol and must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The bill also seeks to reduce burdensome restrictions on how a license holder must transport a firearm in a car. Currently, Ohio is the only state to place such complex limitations on license holders.

SB247 would align Ohio law with federal statutes regarding the restoration of rights to Ohio firearms purchasers. Due to a U.S. Supreme Court decision, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) has stopped accepting Ohio's court orders restoring a citizen's right to own firearms. This bill would update Ohio's statutes to address this issue and protect Ohio citizens' legal rights under the law.

Both bills will head to the full Senate on Thursday, May 27, and if passed will move to the Ohio House.

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray has announced a new concealed carry reciprocity agreement with North Dakota.

Here is the text of the official announcement:

I am pleased to inform you that my office has negotiated another agreement to extend the concealed carry privileges of licensed Ohioans who are traveling in other states.

Effective immediately, North Dakota is the 20th state to enter into concealed carry reciprocity with Ohio. Important agreements such as this help law-abiding, licensed citizens exercise their constitutionally protected rights in a number of different states across the country.

Earlier this month, my office also negotiated a reciprocity agreement with the state of Nebraska. I support concealed carry, and this office will continue to search for new concealed carry reciprocity partners.

by Gerard Valentino

The Dayton Daily News is reporting that preliminary FBI statistics show violent crime has decreased in Ohio for the third straight year. Yes, that's right - crime decreased in spite of predictions by the establishment media, politically-motivated law enforcement groups and anti-gun extremists, who claimed that permissive self-defense laws would lead to the end of civilization as we know it.

Preliminary data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Report shows that the violent crime rate went down 5.5 percent in 2009, compared to statistics from 2008. This covers all four categories of violent crime: murder, robbery, aggravated assault and forcible rape. Violent crime went down 4 percent in metropolitan counties and 3 percent elsewhere, according to the FBI.

At the same time, the agency's National Instant Check System reports continued increases in the number of background check requests and the National Shooting Sports Foundation has reported increased federal firearms excise tax allocations to state wildlife agencies, an indication that more guns and ammunition are being purchased.

Less than two weeks ago, both the DDN and Cleveland Plain Dealer editorialized against current proposed concealed carry reform legislation, with predictions to the effect that if restaurant carry becomes law, it will mean "gunageddon" for Ohio.

Yet, here we are with a decrease in violent crime despite more guns on the streets than ever before. The question, once again, is will the establishment media outlets that promised more guns would equal more crime finally admit they are wrong on guns, and have been for years?

Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative Benefits Varsity Teams, Clubs

On college campuses across the country, men and women are taking up target shooting in increasing numbers. From Harvard to Jacksonville University to the University of Colorado, the shooting sports are "in" as students discover how they can enjoy these safe, fun activities with their friends.

To encourage this growth trend, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association for the firearms and shooting sports industry, last year began providing grants through its Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative to support the development of varsity teams for those students interested in competition and create clubs for students interested in the recreational and social benefits of target shooting.

"After just one round of grants, NSSF has seen participation in target shooting grow significantly at colleges," said Zach Snow, NSSF's senior shooting sports coordinator. "We're just getting started, so the sky's the limit. All it takes to form a team or club is for a dedicated coach, faculty member or student to step up and lead the way. Once that happens, participants follow."

Here's how NSSF's Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative is making target shooting a common activity on campus:

By Gerard Valentino

The anti-gun movement and establishment media have done such a great job disseminating their dangerous message on the gun issue that several of their myths have become accepted as common knowledge in America today. Some of the myths are ridiculous, and some are so pervasive that they are considered to be true.

In some cases they are perpetuated by well-meaning but misinformed entertainers, and in some cases they are the end result of years of anti-gun lies. Regardless, they are destructive to the gun movement and it is vital that they be exposed as myths.

This list isn't meant to be a ranking and it is far from all-inclusive. They are simply myths that have been in the news recently.

by Brian Darling

"President Obama's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court," I wrote in HUMAN EVENTS on June 3, 2009, "owes the American people an explanation on her view of the 2nd Amendment."

The nominee then was Sonia Sotomayor, who never provided an explanation. Now, with the choice of Solicitor General Elena Kagan, President Obama is two for two in selecting Supreme Court nominees with an apparent strong hostility to the right of self-defense.

And it's only fair that Kagan now be held to the "Kagan Standard."

In the spring of 1995, Kagan wrote a book review of Stephen Carter's The Confirmation Mess. "When the Senate ceases to engage nominees in a meaningful discussion of legal issues, the confirmation process takes on an air of vacuity and farce, and the Senate becomes incapable of either properly evaluating nominees or appropriately educating the public," Kagan wrote.

Well, to maintain that standard, the Senate should demand Clinton-era memos written by Kagan, so lawmakers can understand her view of the 2nd Amendment. After all, she was very much involved in many of the gun-control initiatives pushed by President Bill Clinton. The Senate must "properly evaluate" Kagan and "appropriately" educate the public about any anti-gun views she holds.

On May 18, Buckeye Firearms Association Legislative Chair Ken Hanson was a guest the WOSU 820AM (NPR News Columbus) program "All Sides."

Ken discussed issues surrounding illegal guns, and proposals to make it more difficult for terrorists and criminals to obtain weapons and explosives with host Ann Fisher other the guests on the show, City of New York First Deputy Criminal Justice Coordinator/Special Advisor to the Mayor Arkadi Gerney, and City of Columbus Police Chief Walter Distelzweig.

Download the podcast.

Buckeye Firearms Association was also mentioned recently on Tom Gresham's Gun Talk®, a nationally syndicated radio show, on Sunday, May 9. Gresham offered praise for an article by BFA volunteer Tim Inwood that appeared at BuckeyeFirearms.org earlier this month.