By Larry S. Moore
Townhall.com has an excellent piece by well-known author Thomas Sowell. Sowell clearly explains how demagoguery is used by many to defeat the facts. Anyone involved with the struggle for our right of self defense should certainly recognize demagoguery. It is alive and well in Ohio.

It may be impossible to determine who should win the demagoguery award in Ohio. The leading candidates in Ohio are no doubt Toby Hoover (Ohioans Against Gun Violence) and Capt. Born, with an honorable mention to Col. Paul D. McCellan, both of the Ohio Highway Patrol. The demagoguery award may have to be jointly shared by Hoover and Capt. Born. Based on recent statehouse sightings during the testimony on HB 347, they should have no problem sharing.

There are more stories pertaining to our gun rights in Ohio then we can possibly draw attention to with individual daily commentary. But they are worthy of mention.

What follows is our weekly review of headlines from around the state though a pro-gun rights lens.

From 4-H Shooting Sports fund raisers to Liberal Gun-Haters on campus, these articles should be a part of your required reading!

Click on the "Read More..." link below for seven days of headlines accompanied by short, concise pro-gun analysis.

The following editorial is from West Union Ohio's The People's Defender, April 05, 2006. Representative Danny Bubp (R) District 88 is a long time friend to gun owners and is a Buckeye Firearms Association endorsee. Not all politicians are the same and our friends need our support. If you can help Rep. Bubp with his campaign in any way please click here for more information.

Danny Bubp State Rep.

As many readers of this column know, I am a strong supporter of our Second Amendment right to bear arms. Last month, I reported in this column that our Criminal Justice Committee in the Ohio House of Representatives was working diligently to bring House Bill 347 to the floor for a vote. I am pleased to report that we have accomplished this goal and approved HB 347 by a vote of 76 to 19.

HB 347 is a culmination of bipartisan efforts over the last few months to address a number of problems raised by law enforcement and permit holders with the current law regarding licenses to carry a concealed handgun. After seeking input from all stakeholders including the NRA, Buckeye Firearms Association, Ohioans for Concealed Carry and law enforcement, HB 347 addresses most of the concerns raised thus improving the current law for all interested parties.

This measure will also establish statewide preemption to prohibit local governments from continuing to enact ordinances regulating the use of firearms. Over the past several years, local laws have ranged from attempts to regulate concealed-carry to outright firearm bans which undermine the fundamental American principle of equal protection under the law for all citizens. Without preemption, Ohio would continue to have a myriad of local firearm laws making compliance nearly impossible for law abiding gun owners, hunters, target shooters and firearm collectors who travel throughout the state.

A critical improvement in this bill removes the requirement that when a concealed carry licensee knowingly transports or has a loaded handgun in a motor vehicle, the loaded handgun either must be in plain sight or in a case that is in plain sight. This requirement virtually rendered the permit useless as plain sight was undefined and too difficult to comply with.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.