AGAIN: Law enforcement action against man who made Internet threats proves strength of existing laws

On August 12, police in Mahoning County arrested a man charged with making online threats against federal law enforcement agents because they feared he would commit a mass shooting.

Four days later, a similar arrest was made by New Middletown police in a separate case.

BOTH of these cases are proof of what Buckeye Firearms Association leaders have been explaining to elected officials for some time now - current law provides all the tools that are needed to stop potential threats. There is NO need for new laws that will punish law-abiding gun owners without having any effect on crime.

From Youngstown'sThe Vindicator:

James P. Reardon Jr., of Eastwood Drive, faces telecommunications harassment and aggravated menacing charges after authorities say he made a threat on the post that tagged the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, on the city’s North Side.

Under the video, posted July 11, Reardon added the caption, “Police identify shooter of Youngstown Jewish Family Center as local white nationalist Seamus O’Rearedon,” authorities allege.

An investigation determined the account belonged to Reardon, police said.

The report says New Middletown police and members of the Violent Crimes Task Force and the FBI served an arrest warrant for Reardon. A search of his residence turned up numerous firearms, ammunition, a gas mask and literature promoting white nationalist and anti-Semitic ideology.

Buckeye Firearms Association has always opposed so-called 'red flag' laws, which are yet again being put forward by gun ban extremists in response to high-profile mass killings in Ohio and Texas. We have consistently pointed out that existing law is more than enough when used properly, and pointed other cases like these as proof.

Too many of our politicians are all-too eager to blame and punish law-abiding gun owners who had absolutely nothing to do with these sick acts.

This is a frequent tactic used by elected officials AFTER a mass murder is committed by someone who law enforcement knew was a threat but had failed to act upon that information.

Indeed, most of the time investigations into mass killings wind up exposing a breakdown of government, NOT an absence of laws. In most cases it is learned that law enforcement failed to use the tools that they had available.

Because of this fact, some want to divert attention away from their failures by suggesting that more laws are needed. But cases like these prove that is simply not the truth. Cases like these highlight the fact that existing law is BETTER than any red flag law when utilied properly.

There should be no more talk of laws which only punish the law-abiding.

There should be no talk of mandating government control over private sales of guns between individuals.

Instead, those who are truly seeking to make a difference should focus their efforts on improving our mental health system, securing our schools and places of worship, eliminating so-called "gun free" victim zones, ensuring that government entities input their data into the national database, and punishing violent offenders to fullest extent of the law.

Chad D. Baus served as Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary from 2013-2019. He is co-founder of BFA-PAC, and served as its Vice Chairman for 15 years. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website, and is also an NRA-certified firearms instructor.