If you are one of those people who think only Republicans fight to protect your Second Amendment rights, you need to meet Ohio Senator Marc Dann. He was the first, and one of only two elected officials to walk with grassroots activists in an “open carry” walk before concealed carry became law in Ohio. At that time, the House had passed a good concealed carry bill, but the Senate had failed to take action to send the legislation to the Governor. Many have observed a striking similarity to where we are today with HB347.

If you are a Republican who is happy with Governor Taft and Senator Mike DeWine, then you will probably like Marc Dann’s opponent. But if you are sick of your party selling you out to the highest bidder, or what ever else would make a person fight to kill good legislation for gun owners, than you need to support Marc. He is the only pro-gun candidate running for Attorney General, a crucial office for the gun owner.

There are many people who did the work required to make Ohio a shall-issue state. If you have a concealed handgun license (CHL), Marc Dann is one of the people you should thank—something you can do in November by giving him your vote for Attorney General.

By Jim Irvine

Yesterday Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) signed “Castle Doctrine” into law. She signed a total of six bills backed by the National Rifle Association. (NRA)

NRA’s chief lobbyist Chris Cox said, “The Castle Doctrine is about putting the law back on the side of the victim, the way it’s supposed to be.” What a simple concept. This is something we all learned in grade school, yet in Ohio under Republican Governor Bob Taft our castle doctrine bill has not even had a committee hearing and there is no indication it will become law this year.

As in other states, this legislation passed with bi-partisan support. It passed with a supermajority in both houses of the Michigan legislature. Who would be opposed to a law stating that the victim of a deadly encounter is allowed to defend their life, and that they don’t have to run away until their back is up against a wall first, and they can not be sued by the criminal or his family for injuries sustained when the intended victim fights back? Who would oppose putting the burden of proof on the prosecutor to show that a person acted unlawfully? No one who has been a victim of crime or Ohio’s dysfunctional court system, and no one who understand criminals.

Several Republicans have asked me if I believe we would be better with Democrats in charge. Given the track record of the Ohio Republican party for gun owners over the last 16 years under Republican Governors Voinovich and Taft, it’s hard to see how we could have done any worse.