Letter to the Editor: Moving forward on concealed-carry

Toledo Blade
October 12, 2003

Senate President Doug White has violated the trust of the people of Ohio by refusing to appoint senators to a conference committee that will work to reconcile differences in the concealed-carry bills adopted by the House and Senate.

As a leader of a bicameral legislature, Senator White is obliged to work with his counterparts in the House to adopt legislation that reflects the will of the people. He does not have the right to block such legislation by refusing to appoint the Senate’s representatives to a reconciliation committee, and he should not be permitted to shirk his role as a Senate leader by telling members of the House that he will not permit senators to reconcile differences in the House and Senate bills until the House resolves its differences with the governor.

The legislature, not the governor, defines public policy. If Mr. White is not comfortable with that role, he should leave the Senate and go to work directly for the governor.

The people of Ohio want reasonable, safe concealed-carry legislation passed, and they want it passed now. Mr. White should be required to do his job and appoint the Senate representatives to the reconciliation committee. If he refuses to do so, he should be replaced with someone who will.

MARSHALL A. BENNETT, JR.
Sylvania

Click here to read the letter in the Toledo Blade.