To the Editor: Columnist has history of misses

Recently, Toledo Blade columnist Marilou Johanek wrote yet another anti-gun rights screed, lamenting the fact that Lake Local school board is considering joining the growing list of Ohio schools who have decided to offer their students the same protection our culture deems acceptable for rock stars, politicians, and, yes, even some journalists.

The Blade published several responding letters to the editor, including an edited letter from yours truly. My letter is included below, with the edited portions included in italics:

Columnist has history of misses

In response to Marilou Johanek’s Jan. 31 op-ed column, “Why Lake Local Schools should holster thoughts of arming staff”: In 2004, Ms. Johanek wrote that Ohio’s concealed-carry law was legislated lunacy that would result in a “worst-case scenario when road, work, or play rage finds a trigger within easy reach.” Almost 11 years later, We’re still waiting for the mayhem.

She also wrote that people who wanted concealed carry in Ohio were "misguided ideologues with aggressive tendencies." I guess that's what she thinks of the mother in Cleveland who recently defended herself against a stalker who had just shot her son.

In 2011, Ms. Johanek wrote about how terrible it would be if licensees were allowed to carry guns in bars so long as they weren’t drinking. More than three years later Her predictions have, once again, failed to come to pass.

Given her failure to predict how her fellow Ohioans will behave when their right to bear arms is restored to them in other places, why should anyone listen to her predictions about what will happen in schools, especially when more than 30 Ohio districts already allow willing teachers to carry with - you guessed it - no problems whatsoever?

CHAD BAUS

Archbold, Ohio

Editor’s note: The writer is secretary of the Buckeye Firearms Association.

A short letter from another reader drove home the point that the goal in such programs is prevention.

Armed teachers could deter attacks

In response to your Jan. 25 article “Lake Local board listens to state group on possibly arming staff to protect youth”: Had teachers been armed, the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary killings might never have happened. Well-trained teachers may help prevent some of these atrocities from happening again.

LEON SZYCH

Ketukkee Trail

And, of course, there was one letter writer who agreed with Johanek.

Guns lead to violence, fear

Guns in Lake Local schools? Teachers armed? It makes me think of some miserable Third World, dictator-ruled country. How can it happen in the land of the free and home of the brave?

Fear reaches for guns. Guns beget violence. Violence breeds more fear.

If we love our country, we must stop this downward spiral.

URSULA KORNEITCHOUK

Cleveland Heights, Ohio

I'm not surprised images of Third World countries come to Ms. Korneitchouk's mind when discussing armed teachers. It is instances such as the recent attack in Pakistan in which Taliban terrorists killed 150 school children that we want to prevent in this country, and just as school teachers in Pakistan are now arming themselves to prevent such a travesty from happening again, many school teachers in Ohio are also expressing the willingness to carry firearms to protect our children.

These teachers are willing to fight and, if necessary, die for our children. The least we can do is give them the tools they need.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.