The April 2013 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,185,231 is an increase of 27.2 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 931,660 in April 2012. For comparison, the unadjusted April 2013 NICS figure of 1,702,455 reflects a 20.2 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,416,074 in April 2012.

This marks the 35th straight month that NSSF-adjusted NICS figures have increased when compared to the same period the previous year.

The adjusted NICS data were derived by subtracting out NICS purpose code permit checks used by several states such as Kentucky, Iowa and Michigan for CCW permit application checks as well as checks on active CCW permit databases.

Though not a direct correlation to firearms sales, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data provide a more accurate picture of current market conditions. In addition to other purposes, NICS is used to check transactions of firearms sales and transfers on new and used handguns and long guns.

by Jim Irvine

Since the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, states like New York, Colorado and Connecticut have passed drastic anti-freedom laws aimed at restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens. None of those restrictions would stop a killer in a movie theater or inside a school from walking into the next room of innocent victims.

Because firearms were a large part of our nation's birth, many firearms-related businesses have their roots in the formally friendly environment of our first states. Times, they are a changin'.

While other states are driving businesses away, Ohio is working to bring those same businesses here. Representative Ron Maag (R) and Governor John Kasich are being proactive in reaching out to firearms-related companies and show them why a move to Ohio makes sense.

Following is a press release that was issued recently by Rep. Ron Maag:

Rep. Maag Works to Encourage Gun Manufacturing in Ohio

Representative Ron Maag (R-Lebanon) is working with the office of Ohio Governor John Kasich to encourage gun manufacturing companies to explore opportunities in Ohio.

The Coalition Promoting Freedom is holding its 2nd annual Bake Sale/Lemonade Stand "Freedom Day" on Saturday, May 11th, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., at the Fin-Feather-Fur in Ashland.

Celebrating America's freedom will include supporting and promoting the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Right to Bear Arms. Donations only for baked goods (some gluten free) and lemonade.

The "Freedom" is free! All donations will go to the Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA). The BFA is a grassroots political action committee (PAC) here in Ohio dedicated to defending and advancing the right of Ohio citizens to own and use firearms for all legal activities. The Coalition is choosing to donate to BFA because of their dedication to defending Ohioans firearms rights and their recent organization of the Armed Teacher Training Program.

The Buckeye Firearms Foundation paid $30,000 to train 24 educators; more than 1,400 had applied for the training. The three-day course taught participants tactical maneuvers for reacting to school shooters. As part of the program, educators used model guns with plastic pellets while playing roles in gunman scenarios based on real-life situations.

More information is available at www.thecoalitionashland.org or call 419-652-3847.

by Chad D. Baus

The establishment media, which repeatedly asserted that the horrific attack on a school in Newtown, CT meant that gun control was inevitable, are still reeling from the defeat of the anti-gun Manchin-Toomey amendment that sought to make Chuck Schumer's gun control bill, S. 469, palatable to more Senators.

Their attempts to make the undesirable "inevitable" having failed, the media are clearly working together on to a new angle to try and pressure pro-gun rights Senators into caving.

Since the vote on late April, article after article has been published, all claiming that polls taken since the vote show that public sentiment is clearly in favor of more gun control, that the NRA overplayed their hand by blocking these "common sense" measures, and that Senators who voted to stop S. 469 are going to pay the ultimate political price.

by Chad D. Baus

The Center for Consumer Freedom has published a video comparing convicted Ponzi scheme operator "Bernie" Madoff with Wayne Pacell, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

The video points out that HSUS gives less than one percent of its massive donations to local pet shelters, but, it has socked away more than $17 million dollars to its pension fund, and says that if you want to help your local pet shelters, you must give directly to your local shelter.

So long as we're discussing this corrupt organization, and I realize it's been four years, but I'd still love to know why Rush Limbaugh recorded two public service announcement messages for HSUS in 2009 - an inexplicable act, given his long-time opposition to animal rights extremists.

by Chad D. Baus

Remember that Obama administration claim, repeated ad nauseum during the media push to use the horrific massacre in "gun free" Sandy Hook Elementary to pass gun control, that 90% of the American people support an expanded background check bill?

The statistic was debunked any number of ways during the run-up to the vote on S. 469, but that didn't stop Obama and the media from continuing to use it.

Nor have the media made the connection between poll numbers taken since the bill was rejected and the fact that the 90% claim could never have been true.

According to a national survey by the Pew Research Center and the Washington Post, 20% say are very happy the legislation was blocked, while 19% say they are relieved.

Got that? This poll found that 39% of respondents are glad things turned out the way they did. It doesn't take a math genius to observe that, for the President's claims to have been true, that number should only be 10%. But don't count on the media to point that out.

by Chad D. Baus

The Springfield News Sun reported recently that an area fire department is allowing its personnel to carry concealed guns for personal defense.

From the article:

The Bethel Twp. fire department is the only Ohio department allowing firefighters to carry guns, the president of the state fire chiefs' association believes.

The department's chief said a crisis last week is one reason why.

Five unarmed emergency personnel — on what they thought was a routine medical run in Georgia — were taken hostage by a gunman.

The man was shot dead by SWAT officers, who stormed his house after the 2½-hour standoff Wednesday. The firefighters suffered minor injuries.

"Here's a perfect example of why we took on this stance — to give us the ability to have an exit strategy," Bethel Twp. Fire and EMS Department Chief Jacob King said.

by Greg Ellifritz

I recently became aware of a published legal opinion from the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office. I've copied the full opinion below, but the Cliff's Notes version is that if you shoot a commercially purchased or homemade exploding target in Ohio, you could face felony charges!

I know these binary explosive targets are legal under Federal law, but this opinion says they aren't under the Ohio Revised Code. This opinion will likely depend on the explosive components of the individual target and may not hold up to a court challenge, but i wouldn't risk it. My best advice: Don’t blow anything up with Tannerite in Ohio!

OHIO STATE FIRE MARSHAL GUIDANCE ON EXPLOSIVE TARGETS

Information is provided for Ohio Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Fire agencies.

July 2012

In response to some of the questions raised about the regulation of “explosive targets” (ETs), in the State of Ohio (example: products sold under the name “Tannerite”) please note the following information from the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Fire Code:

by Chad D. Baus

WBNS (CBS Columbus) is reporting that an eastside apartment resident fired at burglars inside his home early Wednesday morning, April 24.

Under Ohio's Castle Doctrine law, if someone unlawfully enters or attempts to enter an occupied home or temporary habitation, or occupied car, citizens have an initial presumption that they may act in self defense, and will not be second-guessed by the State.

A recent Castle Doctrine case in Toledo is also making headlines.

[Editor's Note - several Buckeye Firearms Association leaders are on hand in Houston this week for the NRA meetings. If you see them, be sure to say "hi!".]

by Jim Shepherd

[Today begins] the one hundred and forty second edition of the NRA's Annual Meeting & Exhibitions. The booths are up, prepped and ready for a crowd anticipated to be larger than last year's 72,000+ in St. Louis.

It will be the equivalent of a three day love fest for firearms and the Second Amendment-on the inside.

Outside the convention center, the storm of controversy over firearms rights continues as the mainstream media has already started whipping their favorite target, the nameless, faceless National Rifle Association.

The realization that many of today's so-called journalists have taken the anti-gun movement's dogma as absolute truth makes it easier to understand why they are so quick to brand nearly five million fellow citizens as "the cause of the violence problem in America" while routinely giving passes to governors who make statements knowing they are patently false. They're equally quick to hop on any story that portrays gun owners as less-than-desirable citizens.

I don't know about you, but I really don't consider myself part of "America's problem" with anything except aging. And I'm certainly not buying their whining about not being able to pass anti-gun legislation when "90% of Americans want something done about guns."