The System Works

June 4, 2004
NewsNet5.com

Man Arrested After Lying On Application

LOUISVILLE, Ohio -- A man is arrested after he reportedly lied on an application to carry a concealed weapon.

According to Stark County Sheriff's officials, while investigating Donald Holmes, 57, it was discovered that he had a criminal background.

Holmes, of Louisville, indicated "no" on the application for the question asking about convictions.

Records indicate that Holmes pleaded guilty to domestic violence and mishandling of firearms in a motor vehicle in July of 1990 in Alliance Municipal Court.

A warrant was obtained for his arrest and he was charged with falsification.

Commentary:
In her lawsuit seeking to have the Ohio Supreme Court order sheriffs to stop doing their jobs by issuing concealed handgun licenses, Toby Hoover claimed that sheriffs were unable to conduct adequate background checks on applicants, citing "inadequate and incomplete procedures, inadequate funds, and inadequate resources." As such, Hoover argued, the Ohio concealed carry law presents a "clear and present danger" to the citizens of Ohio.

As Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro argues in his motion to dismiss Hoover's baseless suit, Hoover's "complaint and accompanying affidavit in support are devoid of...any
factual information to support the allegations set forth in the complaint."

Indeed, as this incident shows, the system works just fine. More than 20,000 applications for Ohio concealed handgun licenses are estimated to have been submitted in the first two months since April 8, yet only a tiny fraction of a percent have been denied for any reason.