No, Mr. Trustee, it's CRIMINALS that don't belong in our parks

By Chad D. Baus

Just 8 days after the Miami Twp. (Clermont Co.) Board of Trustees voted to remove illegal "no-guns" signs from entrances to the township's five parks, one of the trustees has explained that his wasn't a pro-gun vote after all.

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In a Cincinnati Enquirer op-ed entitled "Guns don't belong in our parks", Trustee Ken Tracy (incorrectly) states that while cities can legally post these signs, his vote to remove them from these five parks was cast because townships do not have "home rule" protection. His op-ed concludes with this:

I would never suggest abolishing the right of gun ownership by law-abiding citizens.

Moreover, the criteria for licensing owners in the state of Ohio is a very solid process that does protect us from individuals who should not be a gun owner due to past criminal activity.

All I ask is, "Do children, parks and guns go together?"

The obvious answer is no.

It is common sense to fix an obviously bad predicament. Guns don't belong in parks; happy, fun-loving faces of children do belong in parks.

Gun owners have every right to keep and protect what is theirs; but when it comes to guns in the parks, the citizens have the right to protect our children.

It is exactly BECAUSE "citizens have the right to protect our children" that state law prohibits Mr. Tracy from infringing on their Constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense in these public places.

Consider this 2004 WCPO.com headline:

14-Year Old Boy Raped At Gunpoint In Local Park
Cincinnati police are investigating the rape of a teenager at a local park... Police say a man raped a 14-year old male at gunpoint around 11 p.m. Friday night... On Saturday investigators searched for clues and questioned people in the area, but have not identified the suspect.

Mr. Tracy asks "Do children, parks and guns go together?" Apparently this violent pedophile thought so. But hey - there are no laws
against posting "No raping kids" signs, so if Mr. Tracy is convinced in the power of a sign to control behavior, I would encourage him to
get right on that. (I cringe to imagine what kind of graphic drawing he will use behind the red circle-slash).

Ohio's concealed handgun license-holders, more than 75,000 strong, have been enjoying Ohio's secluded parks and jogging trails for over
two years now, causing no problems whatsoever for other park-goers. It is incumbent upon those who would render CHL-holders defenseless to offer proof to the contrary. Neither Mr. Tracy nor the City of Toledo nor Ohio's few gun ban extremists have, which is why an overwhelming and bi-partisan majority of Representatives passed House Bill 347, which reinforces the notion that gun laws are a matter of statewide concern. The bill awaits Senate action.