Pro-Gun Punditry: Wednesday's Buckeye State Roundabout

By Chris Chumita

There are more stories pertaining to our gun rights in Ohio then we can possibly draw attention to with individual daily commentary. But they are worthy of mention.

What follows is our review of headlines from around the state though a pro-gun rights lens.
From "shooting ads" to closing the "police gun loophole", these articles should be a part of your required reading!
Click on the "Read More..." link below for several days of headlines accompanied by short, concise pro-gun analysis.

12/16/06: Washington Court House, Ohio: "Deputies Indicted On Charges They Failed To Arrest Colleague

From the article:

Three county sheriff's deputies accused of failing to arrest a former auxiliary deputy who authorities say later killed his wife and himself have been indicted on charges of dereliction of duty.

Also from the article:

Patricia Bailey, who is the sister of John Bailey, also was charged with obstruction of justice, a fifth-degree felony. Stanforth said she prevented the other deputies from removing all the guns from her brother's house.

According to the gun-grabbers, we don't have to worry about protecting ourselves, because the police will protect us. In this case the police did not only fail to protect the victim, but their failure to properly respond to this inciodent contributed to her death.

12/16/06: Salt Lake City, Utah: 'Shooting' Ad In Bad Taste

From the letter to the editor:

I can defend anyone's right to free speech, but bad taste and bad judgment by a local retailer at the holidays should not be allowed. Promoting hunting and self-defense is a far cry from promoting shooting.

Target shooting is a great family activity and helps teach children responsibility. If you would like to give someone the "gift of shooting" this Christmas, buy them a ticket to the 2007 Buckeye Blast! En yüksek deneme bonusu veren siteler 2023 listesine tinfishgaslamp.com adresinden ulaşabilirsiniz.

12/14/06: Las Cruces, New Mexico: Pistol Pete Reloaded: NMSU Mascot Gets His Guns Back

From the article:

After the decision little more than a year ago to revamp its athletics logo, including the widely criticized decision to take Pete's guns away and replace them with a lasso, the NMSU athletics department is in the process of introducing a "secondary mark" with Pete toting two pistols.

This is good news. The image of a gun is not automatically violent, and thankfully NMSU is starting to stand up against the "PC" madness that is everywhere these days.

12/11/06: Columbus, Ohio: Police Release 911 Call Made After Fatal Tire Shop Shooting

From the article:

Authorities released a frantic 911 call made by a storeowner who shot and killed a man attempting to rob his tire store Tuesday night.

Police said the shooting doesn't appear to be murder, but rather self-defense, NBC 4's Lauren Diedrich reported.

Another law-abiding citizen's life was saved by using a firearm for self-defense. In this case, the victim was able to gain control of the criminal's gun and use it against him. Thankfully, this case was recognized as self-defense, and charges will not be filed against the victim.

12/11/06: Ohio: Don't Override Veto Of Gun Law

From the article:

But do gun rights supporters actually believe that the challenges in Ohio biggest cities - Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo - are the same as more suburban areas, such as Lake and Geauga counties? It doesn't pass the smell test, and state senators shouldn't whiff it.

Thats an easy question, yes. My constitutional right to keep and bear arms is NOT determined based upon which city I live in. Would the author of this op-ed support cities using home rule to pass laws that restrict other constitutional rights? For example, would home rule advocates approve Cleveland passing a law that allows police to stop and search random cars due to their high crime rate?

12/11/06: Cincinnati, Ohio: Constitution Says Gun Rights Belong To 'The People'

From the article:

To believe his claim that the amendment only protects the National Guard, one would have to believe that "the people" in the amendment somehow refers to the federal government (since the Guard can be federalized with one stroke of the presidential pen) while "the people" in other amendments references an individual right.

You would also have to conclude that the purpose of the Second Amendment is to give the government "rights" when the founders saw rights as the province of individuals.

You really need to take a minute to read this excellent op-ed by Mr. Jim Coombe.

12/10/06: Houston, Texas: Buy A House, Get A Free Gun

From the article:

While other real estate agents are responding to the current buyers' market by offering extras like free appliances, televisions, or a weekend in a luxury hotel, one Texas agent is drumming up business by offering a free Glock pistol with any home purchase of at least $150,000 – if you're a police officer.

This is a great idea. One part of homeownership that is often overlooked is home protection. I would like to see this incentive program extended to all home buyers who can legally own a gun, and to see real estate agents do it in my area.

12/10/06: Cincinnati, Ohio: Cincinnati Assault-Weapons Ban Upheld

From the article:

The Ohio Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld Cincinnati's ban on assault weapons, even as lawmakers in Columbus were moving to outlaw such bans statewide.

This is exactly why we need to pass HB 347! HB 347 preempts local gun laws and makes firearm laws uniform throughout the state. Without HB 347, your constitutional rights can be infringed upon based upon where you live.

12/9/06: National: Athletes and Guns

From the article:

Many incidents indicate that athletes rely on firearms for self-protection or as a means to resolve an altercation. But estimates on how many professional athletes carry guns, legally or illegally, vary. By Scott's estimation, as many as 20 percent of Major League Baseball players carry concealed weapons, and more than 50 percent own some type of gun.

Athletes and all citizens have the right to carry firearms for protection. Hopefully, pro-gun athletes will be more proactive in the fight to protect our Second Amendment rights.

12/8/06: Washington D.C. Gun Rights Case Is A First For Supreme Court

From the article:

In a case that could shape firearms laws nationwide, attorneys for the District of Columbia argued Thursday that the Second Amendment right to bear arms applies only to militias, not individuals.

The city defended as constitutional its long-standing ban on handguns, a law that some gun opponents have advocated elsewhere. Civil liberties groups and pro-gun organizations say the ban in unconstitutional.

This case or a similiar case may end up in the United States Supreme Court one day. That is why we must make sure that we elect a pro-gun president, because he/she will be the person who makes the nominations to fill any vacancy on the Supreme Court.

12/8/06: National: CCRKBA CHALLENGES CONYERS TO CLOSE ‘POLICE GUN LOOPHOLE’

From the article:

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today challenged incoming House Judiciary Chairman Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) to “close a real loophole” that seems to be putting quite a few guns on the street, particularly in his own congressional district.

“Conyers is an avowed anti-gunner who believes only cops should have guns,” observed CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “Well, in the past six months, in and around his hometown of Detroit, police have lost at least five guns, including a submachine gun and an M4 semiautomatic rifle that are still missing. Instead of looking for ways to restrict our gun rights, maybe Mr. Conyers ought to be looking for those missing guns.

Remember, according to the gun-grabbers, only police officers and the military should have guns.