2016 – Firearms and the Year Ahead

This is the second year of the two-year political sessions, both in Ohio and at the federal level. All bills that have not passed by the end of this year will die. This puts increased pressure on everyone to get the job done.

We will elect a new president this year, who will almost certainly replace multiple U.S. Supreme Court justices, shaping not just the court but our country for the next generation. The candidates will raise and spend more money than any election in history and you will be more sick of political commercials than you’ve ever been by the time Election Day arrives on November 8.

While there will be much stress and anticipation about the last two months of the year, it is these first few months that will shape the end. So now is the time to get involved.

Local elections matter. You can only vote for a good candidate in November if they win the primary. BFA PAC will soon begin issuing primary endorsements. I strongly urge everyone to get involved. The time to be involved is limited, but the benefits can last forever. Ohio’s primary is March 15. The deadline for registering to vote in the primary is February 16. Start now to learn your judicial and prosecutor candidates.

Legislatively, there are several bills to watch. BFA priority bills are HB 48 and SB 180. HB 48 addresses problems with school property and eliminates some victim zones and reduces penalties for carry in others. SB 180 would protect employees with personal firearms in personal vehicles from discrimination (termination) from employers with so-called “no guns” policy in their parking lots. Both bills are common sense legislation where Ohio is playing catch-up to many other states, but there are significant battles looming for each bill. With significant involvement by constituents, these bills should begin moving early in the year. Lacking early support, they will likely not see movement until lame duck, if at at all.

Another bill, SB 199, would give military members greater ability to carry firearms when home on leave. This bill will gain significant attention as military members continue to be attacked at home.

I expect litigation to have renewed importance this year, both locally and at the federal level. The Second Amendment is the only right that courts have ruled applies only in your home. It is past time for the United States Supreme Court to resolve this injustice.

Perhaps empowered by the lawlessness in D.C. several cities seem to think they can violate gun laws with impunity. They are wrong. We are doing research for lawsuits we expect to file this year to deal with city leaders who believe they are above the law.

The FASTER Saves Lives program will continue to grow in popularity. Even though we are increasing our budget significantly, I expect growth to outpace our ability to fund the program. We will need to secure corporate funding to meet demand.

While I’m generally a “glass half full” guy, I fear we are in for some dark times. After losing in courts, legislatures, and public opinion (because they are dead wrong) the anti-freedom groups will focus on ballot initiatives knowing that most people are lazy, and their money allows them to win in this arena.

In his last year, President Obama will go “all in” with executive orders taking away our rights. Republicans will continue to be too afraid of being called racist and will fail to take appropriate action to stop him making this year’s elections the most important in our lifetime.

My biggest fear is that those losses will pale in comparison to growing violence. We will see more terrorist attacks targeting our police and military as well as San Bernardino and possibly Paris or Mumbai -style attacks. I would not be surprised to see Nord-Ost or Beslan scale attacks on our soil. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 are as distant and unimportant as Pearl Harbor for too many American’s. Failing the resolve to defeat our enemy in foreign lands, we are likely to face him in ours.

I’m reminded of Edmond Burke who said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” The greatest challenges present the greatest opportunities. It is time for each of us stand up to evil, from city governments to radical Islam.

The “well regulated” clause in the Second Amendment has nothing to do with regulation, but rather preparation. We must use some of our ammo to practice or take a class to further our skill. Our military is still the greatest in the history of the world, but they will not be there when the terrorist strikes. Just as was required to win our independence, it will require the action of citizens (militia) to quickly stop terrorists when they attack. That will only be possible because of our right to bear arms.

If terrorists are intent on attacks on our soil, they should come to know Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s concerns when he said, “You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.”

Jim Irvine is the Buckeye Firearms Association President, BFA PAC Chairman and recipient of the NRA-ILA's 2011 "Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award," the CCRKBA's 2012 "Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award," and the SAF's 2015 "Defender of Freedom Award."