by Bill Brassard

A new single-day record for point-of-sale background checks was established on Black Friday, November 23, when 154,873 were conducted by the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). That total was nearly 20 percent more than the previous high of 129,166 set on Black Friday last year. Since a federal background check is mandatory for every firearm sold at retail, background check activity serves as an indicator of retail gun sales.

Black Fridays, which occur the day after Thanksgiving, historically have been among the most active days for firearms purchases. As the chart shows, five of the top 10 most active single days for federal background checks were Black Fridays.

"Responsible firearms ownership is popular, mainstream and growing," said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. "Americans in record numbers are choosing to own firearms for target shooting, hunting, collecting and personal and home protection."

The new one-day record was not unexpected, as NSSF pointed out in a recent blog post, given reports of increased gun sales following the election of President Barack Obama to a second term and also hunting license sales increasing.

Saturday's total of 88,419 background checks also earned it a spot among the top ten most active single days.

Senate President and House Speaker are both BFA "A+" - rated

by Chad D. Baus

Buckeye Firearms Association endorsees have been elected by both House and Senate Republicans to a majority of leadership positions in their respective chambers for the 130th General Assembly, which convenes in January.

In the Senate, Republicans have elected BFA "A+" -rated Sen. Keith Faber of Celina as Senate President. Faber has held other leadership positions in the Senate, and is a former endorsee of this political action committee.

Other Republicans elected to leadership positions are "A" -rated Sens. Chris Widener of Springfield, president pro tempore; Tom Patton of Strongsville, majority floor leader; Larry Obhof of Medina, majority whip - all are also former endorsees of Buckeye Firearms Association.

Sen. Faber will succeed Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), who is leaving the legislature at the end of the year due to term limits.

In the House, Republicans reelected "A+" -rated Speaker Bill Batchelder to lead the caucus, and retained all of the leadership team who are returning next year.

"A" -rated Reps. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) will serve as pro tem, Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania) as majority leader, John Adams (R-Sidney) as assistant majority floor leader, Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) as majority whip and Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) as assistant majority whip. All are former BFA-endorsees.

On the Democrats' side, with a couple of exceptions, caucus leaders in the House and Senate are much less friendly to gun owners.

COLUMBUS, OH – Hunters checked 29,297 white-tailed deer on Monday, Nov. 26, the opening day of Ohio’s deer-gun season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Monday’s total represents a 24.1 percent increase from 2011, when rain-soaked hunters harvested 23,600 deer.

Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer checked in 2012: Coshocton (1,199), Muskingum (1,102), Tuscarawas (1,091), Guernsey (858), Harrison (845), Knox (830), Ashtabula (816), Licking (805), Carroll (776) and Washington (747). The top three counties were unchanged from 2011.

The deer-gun season remains open through Sunday, Dec. 2. It will reopen for an additional two days, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15-16. Approximately 420,000 hunters are expected to participate in this year’s season, including many out-of-state hunters. Find more information about deer hunting in Ohio’s 2012-2013 Hunting and Trapping Regulations or at www.wildohio.com.

Call your U.S. Senators to keep it Alive! 202-224-3121

The Sportsmen's Act of 2012 (S.3525) still can be enacted in this Congress if we keep the pressure on. All hunters, target shooters and firearms owners should call your senators today and urge them to work in a bipartisan manner to resolve budgetary concerns raised on Monday so the Sportsmen's Act can be brought back to the floor for a vote on final passage. There are ongoing negotiations but time is running short. Tell your senators to compromise and reach a bipartisan agreement now.

The Sportsmen's Act is the most important package of measures for the benefit of sportsmen in a generation. It took a great deal of work to bring together no less than 46 of the nation's leading sportsmen and conservation groups including NSSF, NRA, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, American Sportfishing Association, International Game Fish Association, Center for Coastal Conservation, and Boone and Crockett Club to champion S.3525.

by Jim Irvine

Representative Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) gave sponsor testimony for HB495 before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, November 27.

Rep. Johnson explained to the committee that the bill, which has already been passed by the House passed in the House by a 59 - 28 margin, would eliminate the ill-conceived "demonstrated competency" requirement that will potentially cause huge problems for Ohio sheriffs and concealed handgun license holders (CHLs) next year, correct the definition of a "loaded" firearm, and move toward an automatic reciprocity system for CHLs, similar to how drivers licenses works.

There were no questions or concerns raised by the committee.

Committees generally meet once per week, but during lame duck there are often cancellations or extra sessions on different days to accommodate the huge workload as legislators work to finish all priority bills before they die at the end of session. Plans change quickly and flexibility is important.

Behind the scenes, Buckeye Firearms Association is reaching out to all committee members to ask for their support for the bill, and to address any questions or concerns they might have. We will be prepared to offer testimony at an as yet to be announced proponent hearing, and will inform Senators as to why this legislation is important and good for Ohio.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Jim Irvine is the Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman, and recipient of the NRA-ILA's 2011 "Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award" and the CCRKBA's 2012 "Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award."

A group of more than 75 women from around the country gained a better understanding of outdoor related activities thanks to the Trailblazer Adventure Program held recently at the American Heritage Girls National Conference for staff and volunteers near Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Trailblazer Adventure Program, a youth program of the U.S Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation (USSAF) designed to introduce youth and families to the outdoors, and the American Heritage Girls (AHG), a Christ centered scouting organization for girls based in Cincinnati, signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding Trailblazer on May 16, 2012.

To jump start the partnership, a Trailblazer Adventure Day was held Saturday, November 10, 2012 to introduce AHG troop leaders to the excitement of outdoor activities at Cub World located in Loveland, Ohio.

Members of the Buckeye Firearms Association volunteered their time to help introduce the troop leaders of AHG to the excitements of the shooting world. Volunteers included Michael Borgerding, Frank Borke, Steve Colson, John Cunningham, John Kerr, Jeff Kimbrell, Eric Mercon, Bill O'Hair, and Jeffrey Tindell.

by Larry S. Moore

When I first reported on the Clark County Sportsmen Club, I indicated that I really wished I had my shotgun to shoot a round of sporting clays. I soon returned to the club to shoot. It turned out to be more special than I could have ever dreamed.

The day started, like many other trips to the range, with deciding what shotgun to use today, gathering the shells and range bag plus the anticipation. I was going with a long-time shooting buddy Dennis Evans.

We thought about asking our friend, and mentor, Karl Wilburn to tag along. Karl, who is into his early 80's, has had some health issues that limited his shooting over the last few years. He is getting his strength back and had a better summer. A quick phone call and Karl agreed to go but indicated he wouldn't shoot. That's fine with us. We always enjoy Karl's company, humor and endless string of shooting stories. However, when we arrived at his house, he was busily scurrying around getting his vest, shotgun and shells together. Even better to have another chance to share the range with him!

During the short ride to the club, Karl wondered if any of his old shooting buddies might still be there. Unbeknownst to us, Karl is a life member of the Clark County Sportsmen's Club. We already knew that Karl was an All-Ohio State trapshooter during his days of active competition. Karl walked up to the porch and started talking to another older gentleman. It took a few minutes for the connection, but it was one of his old shooting and hunting buddies, Lowell Norton. Lowell invited us shoot with his squad, and we quickly accepted. We had the most enjoyable round of sporting clays that I've shot perhaps in my life.

Watching Lowell and Karl as they shot, told stories and the old friends reconnected was simply priceless. I know Karl wore a big smile for the entire round. After the last bird was thrown and the scores tallied, Dennis had the best score, but Lowell was in the hunt, besting both Karl and I by a couple of targets. The shooting was over but the best part was yet to come.

Buckeye Firearms Association Region Leader Sean Maloney has been invited to guest host WBZI 1500 AM's "Class Country Outdoors" radio program.

In addition to answering questions on topics raised by listeners who phone in, Maloney will address issues such as:

• Legislative efforts to protect and improve gun rights at the state and federal level
• What can happen if a CHL holder fires his weapon in an incident.... what can he expect from police, courts, lawyers etc... what should he do and what should he not do and what could be penalties?
• Selecting a CHL course, instructor and selecting a defense handgun, holster, ammo and how to practice.
• Traveling on vacation with a handgun
• And much, much more...

Maloney's first show aired November 11. Upcoming show dates are:

- December 2
- December 23
- January 20
- February 10

The one hour radio program is broadcast live Sundays at noon on AM 1500 WBZI Xenia, AM 1130 WEDI Dayton, AM 1090 WKFI Wilmington, and is streamed on the Internet at www.MyClassicCountry.com.

Sean Maloney is a Buckeye Firearms Association Region Leader, a Second Amendment Rights attorney in West Chester, OH, an NRA Benefactor Lifetime Member, NRA Election Volunteer Coordinator for Ohio's 8th Congressional District, an active NRA Instructor, currently serves on the "Grassroots Development" committee of the National Rifle Association and received the NRA's 2011 "Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award."

by Larry S. Moore

Many Ohio hunters will recognize the name Cherrybend Pheasant Farm. It was operated for many years by the Hollister family. The Hollister family were experts at both raising pheasants, providing quality hunts and serving fine lunches. Today their tradition is continued by the Ellis family. They are not only keeping the land in local farm production but continue to operate Cherrybend Pheasant Farm. It is a labor intensive effort of love that offers hunters the best in a pheasant hunting experience in Ohio.

Mick Runk, who has worked at Cherrybend for 15 years, explains, "Hunters may think of the summer as the off season but for the preserve operator there is no off season. It's simply a change in season from hunting season to bird raising season for next year. Our preserve hunting season stops in March. A lot has to be done in April to be ready for the day old chicks by the first of May. Everything in the brooder house is washed and disinfected. The barns have to be cleaned. The brooder house is a thirty-foot by seventy-foot building were the chicks will be kept for the first six-weeks."

by Chad D. Baus

ABC News reported recently that a new program, soon to come to Ohio, is allowing students to receive training that would give them a more proactive role in responding to a school shooter. Instead of hiding, they would barricade doors and learn counter techniques.

From the article:

The program, called ALICE -- alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate -- has been implemented in 300 schools since it was founded in the mid-2000s by former SWAT officer Greg Crane and his wife, a former school principal.

After the Columbine shooting in 1999, Crane said he realized the lockdown-only policies most schools have aren't enough to protect students if there is a shooter on the loose. By locking doors and hiding, students become easy targets, he said.

"You look at Columbine and every single child killed in the library that morning," Crane told ABCNews.com, referring to the library in which 52 children and teachers hid for more than four minutes before the gunmen entered and shot 18 of them. "They were all sitting down. ... Why were they there five minutes when they had five minutes to do something else?"

In Canton, the adoption of ALICE training has been received with some hesitation from the Canton School Committee, the Boston Globe reports. After a reporter questioned local officials, the committee called a meeting on Nov. 15 to discuss the program.

"Truthfully, we're a little behind the information curve on all of this," committee chairman John Bonnanzio told the Globe on Thursday. "At the very least we need to be able to ask some questions. We think the community should be able to weigh in, too."

According to Crane, the C in ALICE is for "counter," and that's often the most controversial step, but it's also a last resort.