Tale of Two Cities: Rapist in Columbus? Call for help; Baton Rouge? Get a gun!

For more than a decade, a rapist has prowled the Linden area, attacking women in their beds at night.

His attacks have been so sporadic -- he takes a breather for months and even years between assaults -- that many Linden residents thought the suspect had been caught.

Last night, Columbus police held a meeting to warn Linden residents that the rapist remains at large, on the prowl and he's getting better at covering his tracks. To date, 19 women between the ages of 15 and 45 have been attacked.

The most recent attacks occurred in June when two women were raped.

Police and community members have asked residents to watch their neighbors and to report any information about the rapes or possible suspects to Crime Stoppers at 614-645-TIPS.

Meanwhile, in a state that allows its law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense, a shockingly different plan of self-defense is suggested by the Governor while police search for a serial killer:

ABCNews.com, Baton Rouge, LA, 08/01/2002

Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster reminded women Thursday that they can pack a gun to protect themselves from a serial killer who has slain three women in the capital in the past 10 months.

"You have the right to get a gun permit," Foster said. "Learn to use it."

• Could the lifting of Ohio's unconstitutional ban on carrying a concealed weapon for self-defense save the Columbus serial rapists' next intended victim?

Contact information for the area's elected officials is provided below:

State House of Representatives
• Rep. James Hughes (R-22)
Phone: (614) 466-2473
Fax: (614) 644-9494

State Senate
• Sen. Steve Stivers (R-16)
Phone: (614) 466-5981

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