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 "Cops Gone Wild" to an NRA victory, 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.

10/1/06: Lorain, Ohio: Report: 1 In 3 Lorain Officers Disciplined, Sued Since 2000

From the article:

About one-third of the city's police force has been disciplined or sued since 2000 over allegations including sexual misconduct, a bar fight and belittling a boy with a behavioral disorder, The Plain Dealer reported Sunday.

The city has paid more than $500,000 in legal fees and settlements in cases involving officers in that period, the newspaper reported, citing auditor's records, court documents and a review of personnel files of the department's 119 officers and dispatchers.

The gun-grabbers want us to rely on the police for our protection and feel that the only the police should have guns. This article shows that police officers sometimes do careless things with their guns and some of their actions are dangerous. How are we suppose to depend on the police when they act like this?

10/1/06: Summerville, South Carolina: Popular 9mm Gun Of Choice

From the article:

Mickalis sells the Hi-Point for a mere $179.95, or about the cost of a good quality lawn mower any homeowner can pick up at a discount retailer. Just to make sure the public knows the guns are in stock, Mickalis advertises the weapon on a banner outside his Main Street store, where thousands of cars and would-be customers pass daily. And that's a problem, according to the anti-gun lobby.

With handguns selling for less than $200 retail, gun-control advocates say America is becoming more dangerous, not less. For starters, the cheaper weapons are the ones that most often pass through many hands, whether legally sold, traded or stolen, said John Shanks, director of law-enforcement relations with the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

According to the gun-grabbers, the gun is the root cause of all violent crime. By the time they are done blaming the gun, there is none left for the criminal. They hate all guns, not just cheap ones. Those who are not as well off financially must buy handguns like Hi-Points, because they can't afford to spend several hundred dollars on a gun to protect themselves.

9/27/06: Cleveland, Ohio: Across The City, War On Crime Is Rallying Cry

From the article:

"A lot of police are frustrated with these criminals," Dvorak said. The drug peddlers attract people who are drug dependent - those who steal whatever they can get their hands on to feed their habit, or women who sell their bodies for drug money.

What's worse, he said, is that they are becoming more violent and many of them carry weapons. Cleveland's population is declining for two reasons -schools and crime, said Councilman Zachary Reed of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Reed said he is hoping surveillance cameras can help curtail criminal activity in his ward, among the most violent in the city. Cameras already installed have reduced crime in some neighborhoods by 73 percent, he said. He plans to use federal grants to buy more cameras and uses grant money to pay off-duty police officers to patrol streets in his ward.

Did you notice what is missing from this article? The article should have mentioned that we are responsible for protecting ourselves, because the police are not able to. It should suggest that in order to reduce violent crime, the citizens of Cleveland should buy a gun, learn how to use it, and obtain their CHLs.

10/2/06: Akron, Ohio: 17 Arrested

From the article:

Akron police drug units and other agencies arrested 17 people Friday as part of sweep aimed at reducing gun violence. Police filed 28 charges against the group, including nine felonies and 16 misdemeanors. Police also served three felony warrants and nine traffic citations, according to a city police report on the effort.

All law-abiding gun owners fully support any effort made by law enforcement to crack down on violent criminals who use guns.

9/27/06: Granville, Ohio: GOP Brings Out The Big Guns – First Lady Stumps For Candidate Padgett at Granville

From the article:

In her campaign across the vast 16-county district, Padgett said the issues most on the mind of voters are the lack of jobs, health care costs, the cost of a college education, illegal immigration, education in general and “the war on terror.”

On the latter, she said, “I stand with the president of the United States. We need to support our troops abroad. We need to support them with training. We need to support and honor them when they return. We need to fortify them with equipment and prayer.”

On the other issues, Padgett said, “I do have a vision, and I can build partnerships to get us there.”

Joy Padgett is a true friend to gun owners and was endorsed by the Buckeye Firearms Association.

9/26/06: National: NRA-Backed BATFE Modernization And Reform Bill Passes the U.S. House

From the article:

Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA Chief Lobbyist stated, “Today marks a great victory for law-abiding gun owners and retailers across the country. H.R. 5092 makes necessary improvements - and establishes new guidelines - for BATFE investigations. It will curb abuses and provide a streamlined process for all necessary parties.”

The “BATFE Modernization and Reform Act” establishes a more efficient system of administrative penalties for licensed dealers, manufacturers and importers of firearms. Currently, for most violations BATFE can only give a federal firearms license (FFL) holder a warning or completely revoke their license.

This was an important victory for gun owners and FFL holders. You can thank the NRA for their hard work by sending them a donation, even if its only a few dollars.