The OFCC PAC volunteer staff has been hard at work, following up on the story we first reported here on January 8, concerning the replacement of anti-CCW Senator Priscilla Mead (R-16). Last Thursday, Steve Stivers (R) was sworn in as her replacement.

OFCC PAC went to work immediately to learn about Mr. Stiver's understanding of and support level for concealed carry reform efforts. We are pleased to report that Ohio's pro-CCW contingent in the state Senate has been increased by Mr. Stivers' appointment, and that his constituents in west Columbus now have a representative concerned about their constitutional right to self-defense.

Senator Stivers has told OFCC PAC's Vice Chairman that he is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, and is in favor of concealed carry reform in Ohio. He is active as an officer in the Army National Guard, and shoots regularly at a public range in the Columbus area.

We look forward to working with Senator Stivers in the 125th General Assembly and beyond.

Columbus - A state lawmaker has started a drive to remove three Ohio Supreme Court justices from the bench.

Rep. Ron Young is seeking co-sponsors for a resolution to remove Justices Paul Pfeifer, Francis Sweeney and Alice Robie Resnick.

This represents the first attempt by the General Assembly to discharge a justice in 194 years, Supreme Court officials said.

The action by Young, a Leroy Township Republican, reflects a long simmering resentment bubbling within the Republican-controlled legislature over a series of sharply divided 4-3 Supreme Court rulings.

"The legislature does not need a cause to remove a justice, but we do have ample cause," Young said.

"Over the years a very liberal group of judges, Republican and Democrat, have taken it upon themselves to write a lot of legislation."

The so-called "Gang of Four" that included recently retired Justice Andy Douglas has slapped down numerous laws created by the General Assembly in the past decade. Douglas and Pfeifer are Republicans; Sweeney and Resnick are Democrats.

To succeed, Young must convince two-thirds of the General Assembly to go along with his efforts.

As violent crime rates continue to drop in states that allow citizens to carry concealed firearms, some of those states are reconsidering the limits they place on that constitutional right.

According to data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, the violent crime rate in the U.S. has dropped every year since 1991 and hit a 23-year low in 2002. In that same period, 17 states added CCW laws and 13 states eliminated some restrictions from existing CCW laws.

States with CCW laws experienced lower violent crime rates without exception.

Research shows the longer concealed carry laws are on the books, the more crime drops. For each additional year that concealed carry gun laws have been in effect, the murder rate declines by 3 percent, robberies by over 2 percent, and rape by 1 percent.

On average violent crime was 24 percent lower; there were 22 percent fewer murders, 37 percent fewer robberies and 20 percent fewer aggravated assaults than in states that do not issue CCW permits.

Similarly, the states with the lowest violent crime rates all have "shall issue" CCW permit laws that force police to issue permits if applicants meet the qualifications established by the state legislature.

Click here to read the entire story from the Cybercast News Service.

Buried in a Dayton Daily News story about Taft's inauguration is this tidbit on future power possibilities for the governor:

"Taft is vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association and is expected to move up to chairman next year."

To express your desire to keep liberal Republicans like Bob Taft out of national leadership roles, click on the link below:

Republican Governors Association

The Ohio Republican Party - fresh off a third straight sweep of statewide offices - has re-elected Chairman Robert Bennett to an eighth two-year term.

The party's state central and executive committee gave Bennett its endorsement on Sunday. Last month, Bennett said he would seek another term, two years after saying that term might be his last.

Bennett, 63, has been chairman since 1988 and has presided over the GOP takeover of Ohio's statewide elected offices.

On Nov. 5, his entire slate of statewide candidates was elected, led by Gov. Bob Taft, who won a second term.

Bennett, an attorney, said state and national Republicans persuaded him to stay on for President Bush's expected re-election campaign next year.

Click here to access the Associated Press source link.

Those interested in electing a true pro-CCW to the Ohio governorship in 2004 will be interested in a report filed today in the Columbus Dispatch.

Auditor Betty Montgomery, Attorney General Jim Petro, Treasurer Joe Deters and Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell each want the Republican nomination for the office of governor in 2006, when Gov. Bob Taft is barred from seeking a third consecutive term. But are any of these candidates truly pro-CCW Reform?

Count one out from the start: Betty Montgomery voiced her personal opposition to concealed carry reform to OFCC PAC's Vice Chairman during the 2002 campaign season. As for Kenneth Blackwell, the former Cincinnati mayor, Joe Deters and Jim Petro, only time and research will tell. We at OFCC PAC will be sure to keep you updated.

To express your desire for a truly pro-CCW Reform candidate for Ohio governor in 2006, click on the links below:

Ohio Republican Party

Republican Governors Association

Republican National Committee

The Cincinnati Enquirer has printed an extensive piece on Ohio's new Lt. Gov., Jennette Bradley (R), who appears in next month's Jet magazine.

"In four years she will be in high demand," said Ohio Republican Chairman Bob Bennett, who foresees a prime speaking position for her at the 2004 presidential convention. "I think the opportunities for her right now are unlimited."

While Ms. Bradley's position on Concealed Carry Reform is undetermined, she drew criticism during the 2002 campaign for her liberal stance on social issues such as extending health benefits to gay partners in Columbus and for being pro-choice when it comes to abortion.

Ms. Bradley says she picked up many of her political beliefs from her father - an Army master sergeant who served two tours in Vietnam.

Let's hope Mst. Sgt. Bradley was pro-choice when it came to self-defense, and that he passed that same value on to his daughter.

As lieutenant governor, Ms. Bradley says she hopes to listen to and lobby for people from all walks of life. She says she plans to put her access to the bully pulpit to good use.

Click here for the full story in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Now that January is here, Trumbull County's new state senator, Sen.-to-be Marc Dann, D-Liberty, is busy getting ready for his first term in the Ohio General Assembly.

As OFCC PAC reported on December 13, Dann was selected from among four candidates to fill the seat being vacated by Timothy J. Ryan and is expecting 50 to 60 friends and relatives for his swearing in on Monday.

The first order of business for the 33-member Ohio Senate will be Dann's swearing-in ceremony. He'll have another ceremony on Jan. 11 at the Creekside Golf Dome in Girard.

Mr. Dann, who practices constitutional law, has expressed his philosophical support for Concealed Carry Reform to OFCC PAC's Vice Chairman, and committed to learning more about the specific details of the legislative proposals.

Calls encouraging Mr. Dann to continue Tim Ryan's legacy of support for the Second Amendment and Concealed Carry Reform may be made to (330) 375-4155.

Click here for the full story in the (Warren) Tribune Chronicle.

Republican Senator Steve Stivers of Columbus was sworn in Thursday at a special session. The 37-year-old former Bank One government affairs vice president succeeds Priscilla Mead, who resigned the 16th Senate District seat to escape the fund-raising grind and other aspects of political life.

Last week, we reported on the resignation of anti-CCW Republican Senator Priscilla Mead, and on speculation about her replacement's stance on the concealed carry reform issue.

The Associated Press is now reporting that a replacement has been chosen by a Senate screening committee.

OFCC PAC will be in contact with the appointee's office, to determine his level of support for concealed carry reform, and will report our findings here as soon as possible.

An archived version of the story follows.

Columbus lobbyist to replace GOP senator

The Associated Press
1/8/03 1:53 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A Columbus lobbyist has been chosen to replace state Sen. Priscilla Mead, a Republican who resigned last week.

Steve Stivers, 37, a Bank One vice president for governmental affairs, was expected to be approved Thursday by the 21 other Senate Republicans.