2006 - BFA in the News

Note: some websites change or deactivate stories after we link them here.

December 17, 2006
The Ohio News Network (Columbus)

Buckeye Firearms Association Legislative Chair Ken Hanson appeared as a panel guest on the ONN's Capitol Square discussing the General Assembly's vote to override Governor Taft's veto of HB347.

December 15, 2006
Dayton Daily News - Senate bill bars copying names on gun permits

"It's an improvement on existing law, but we don't think it's good enough," said Jim Irvine, chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association. Irvine said his group wants the names of permit holders maintained by county sheriffs kept private. Under the concealed weapons law passed in 2004, journalists, but not the public, are allowed access to lists of the names, counties of residence and birth dates of permit holders.

December 14, 2006
Akron Beacon Journal - Overriding the governor's veto, telling cities: We know better

Jim Irvine, the chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association, applauded the Ohio Senate for joining the House in overriding Gov. Bob Taft's veto of legislation concerning the carrying of concealed weapons. He added that lawmakers demonstrated "just how out of touch the governor and a few big city mayors really are."

December 13, 2006
Cincinnati Enquirer - Anti-gun mayors contemplate legal challenge to Preemption Law

Dann said the reason for his vote hadn't changed from the reason for which he supported the bill when it passed the Senate last month. "Having contradictory gun laws all over the state doesn't make sense," he said.

That was the argument of backers including the Buckeye Firearms Association, Ohioans for Concealed Carry and the National Rifle Association, which defended the clause as bringing uniformity to a confusing array of local gun laws.

December 13, 2006
Canton Repository - Anti-gun mayors contemplate legal challenge to Preemption Law

Ken Hanson, a spokesman for the Buckeye Firearms Association, discounted the Quinnipiac poll, saying lawmakers were getting bombarded with calls and e-mails asking them to override the veto. He said now Ohioans can "live by one set of rules" statewide.

Hanson also said he expects more gun control legislation to be addressed when a new Legislature and administration takes over next month.

December 13, 2006
Cybercast News Service - Ohio Lawmakers Override Governor's Gun Bill Veto

"We're trying to get a handle on the homicides and the violent crimes that we've had in our city, and I think any tool that we have that's available to us that will restrict the kinds of weapons that we're talking about would be useful," noted Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.

However, [Buckeye Firearms Association legislative chairman Ken] Hanson -- who describes himself as "an attorney who litigates firearms and has represented municipalities" -- warned that "taxpayers are not going to be happy if their elected representatives have to pay $50,000 in attorney fees over futile attempts to continue enforcing worthless local ordinances."

"The fact that so many voted for this bill and obtained the first veto override in nearly three decades demonstrates just how out of touch the governor and a few big city mayors really are," said the association's chairman, James Irvine.

"The cold, hard conclusion to be drawn is that Ohioans recognize gun control as the failure it is and understand that there is nothing to fear from trained, law-abiding citizens being armed," Irvine added.

December 13, 2006
Gongwer News Service - House and Senate Override Governor's Veto

"We are gratified that the General Assembly recognized that Governor Taft and a few mayors were playing politics with important firearm law reforms," said Buckeye Firearms Chairman James Irvine. "We recognize this was a difficult step, but the fact that so many voted for this bill and obtained the first veto override in nearly 3 decades demonstrates just how out of touch the Governor and a few big city mayors really are."

December 7, 2006
Cincinnati Enquirer - Taft veto may face override

"Cities are out of the firearm regulation business," said Ken Hanson, legislative chairman for the Buckeye Firearms Association.

Hanson said his organization worked with state legislators to remove all of law enforcement's objections. He was surprised by the last-minute Taft opposition to the bill's impact on local ordinances.

December 7, 2006
Associated Press - Taft vetoes preemption bill; House overrides

Ken Hanson, legislative chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association, said eliminating the local laws is a reasonable goal - and one that was in the bill for many months.

"Certainly, gun owners want to be able to travel throughout the state," he said. "Driving down here today, I passed through six municipalities. If I'd happened to have a firearm in my car, I have no idea as I drive along unless I look up those codes whether I'm legal or illegal."

Hanson said Ohio law is already robust enough to handle the vast majority of assault weapons cases without the local bans, noting there have been only two convictions under Toledo's assault weapons ban, one under Cincinnati's, and none under the one in Columbus.

"These objections on home-rule grounds are red herrings," he said.

December 7, 2006
Dayton Daily News - House votes to override Taft gun bill veto

"We've made every reasonable compromise at every step of the way to avoid the veto showdown," said Ken Hanson, legislative chair for the Buckeye Firearms Association.

December 7, 2006
Toledo Blade - Taft vetos bill loosening restrictions concealed handguns

The Buckeye Firearms Association accused the governor of being inconsistent when defending the home-rule authority of local governments. It suggested he should also veto a bill that he generally supports that is moving through the legislature to increase public access to local records.

"This is an area of home-rule where local government is absolute and cannot be infringed, unlike firearm laws," said Ken Hanson, the organization's legislative chairman. "State-level public records laws are a clear infringement on home-rule authority delegated to municipalities to the extent the state dictates to municipalities how to meet, what paper to keep, and who they must give it to."

December 6, 2006
Columbus Dispatch - A New Generation of Hunters

Another benefit: teaching young hunters real-life safety lessons, said Gerard Valentino, central Ohio coordinator of the Buckeye Firearms Association.

"There are a lot of inexperienced young hunters out there that don't understand how far that bullet can fly," Valentino said. "It's like anything else. You can teach it in a book, but until you physically do it, you don't really know what you're doing."

November 30, 2006
Associated Press - Taft vows to veto bill ending local laws on concealed weapons

Jim Irvine, chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association, said it would be a mistake for Taft to veto the bill.

"Think of a driver's license or all of the things that the state issues a license for," Irvine said. "The license has to be valid wherever you go. Same thing with a [CHL]."

November 30, 2006
Toledo Blade - Legislation opposed by Taft would kill Toledo measures

Jim Irvine, of the Buckeye Firearms Association, said he believes Toledo misinterpreted the current concealed-carry law when it successfully prosecuted Bruce Beatty for carrying a concealed 45-caliber handgun into Ottawa Park in West Toledo. The conviction, the result of a stunt to mark the one-year anniversary of the concealed-carry law, was upheld by the Toledo-based 6th District Court of Appeals and is being appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court.

"Any state-owned building is prohibited for a license-holder to carry, like the Statehouse building or rest areas, but they can't do it for property," he said. "Buildings can be posted. Property cannot be posted."

"What we have found since passage of concealed carry is that the number of instances where a gun was used successfully to defend one's self or used carelessly has been minimal," said Toledo police Chief Mike Navarre. "There isn't enough data for anyone to reach any objective opinion as to whether the law has been successful or not.

October 10, 2006
Cybercast News Service - Is anti-gun Brady Campaign's DeWine endorsement MEANT to help him lose?

Op-ed by Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chair Chad Baus published on this national news website.

September 22, 2006
Cybercast News Service - Personal Protection, a Personal Responsibility