Another one bites the dust: Anti-gun politicians drop out of special election for Ohio Attorney General

By Chad D. Baus

In the past few weeks, articles written by myself and Buckeye Firearms Association Legislative Chair Ken Hanson have attempted to sound the warning on storm clouds which were gathering over this fall's special election for Ohio Attorney General, due to the names being floated by both parties - former Senator Mike DeWine and current Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher in particular.

This week, it appears the clouds may have a chance of lifting, or at least shifting to a different part of the political atmosphere.

First, let us revisit Ken Hanson's May 30 op-ed, entitled "Storm Clouds Gather Over Ohio Attorney General Election:

The office of Attorney General is critical to gun rights in Ohio. The Ohio Attorney General must go to court to defend the laws that we have worked so hard to pass. The Ohio Attorney General oversees the entire concealed carry licensing process and the background checks it is dependent upon. The Ohio Attorney General issues legal opinions and guidance to statutory clients, including folks like the Division of Wildlife. The Ohio Attorney General prepares the state pamphlet summarizing our firearm laws. The Ohio Attorney General is solely responsible for all reciprocity agreements. The Ohio Attorney General plays a very large role in enforcing environmental regulations, including ones being used aggressively in other states to shut down ranges and hunting access. The Ohio Attorney General is square in the middle of everything we do with guns in Ohio.

Perhaps nothing illustrates the peril we face if we fail to act now than the name that is being liberally (pun intended) tossed around downtown as the potential GOP contender. Put down all sharp objects and swallow all beverages before reading the next sentence.

Mike DeWine.

That is right. Anti-gun Mike DeWine. The same Mike DeWine who is so hated by grassroots GOP that GOP Voter Vault started keeping a separate data field for registered Republicans who indicated they would never support Mike DeWine. The same Mike DeWine who received anti-gun accolades and endorsements for the last 8 years is now being positioned as the savior of the Ohio GOP by puppet masters behind the scenes, and you will never get the opportunity to go to the polls to keep Mike off the November ballot.

Hanson went on to call on gun owners weary from the grassroots push to pass Ohio's Castle Doctrine law to go "once more into the breach, dear friends" to voice concerns about DeWine with the powers-that-be.

There are now strong indications that pro-gun voices are being heard. From the Columbus Dispatch:

With a week to go before the Ohio Republican Party vets potential replacements for disgraced former Democratic Attorney General Marc Dann, three more top-tier candidates have signaled they don't plan to run.

Former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said yesterday they don't intend to screen to be the party's nominee for attorney general in the Nov. 4 general election. And a spokesman for retiring U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce of Upper Arlington said her candidacy for the post is unlikely.

DeWine, considered the party's leading candidate for the job vacated by [former Democratic Attorney General Marc] Dann on May 14, outright removed his name from consideration.

...Late yesterday, O'Brien, another top GOP prospect, said in an e-mail that he will run for re-election and "I have no plans to appear before the GOP screening committee" for the attorney general's position.

...DeWine, who is chairman of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign in Ohio, was viewed as a strong candidate for the short race for attorney general, in part because of his high name recognition and ability to raise campaign money.

But DeWine said he wants to devote his full attention to helping McCain win Ohio in November: "I made a commitment to do everything I could to get John elected. This man would be a great president. As much as in many ways I would like to be the attorney general of this state, you can't do two things at the same time."

...DeWine said he discussed his decision with McCain but would not detail what was said. He also declined to address speculation that he could end up in a cabinet post, perhaps U.S. attorney general, if McCain is elected president.

Leaving aside for a moment the spectre of Mike DeWine as President John McCain's U.S. Attorney General (should Ohio gun owners get excited about anyone Mike DeWine - a man who in 2006 was named among the Top 10 anti-gun U.S. Senators and who lost his incumbency while sporting a Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (formerly Handgun Control Inc.) endorsement - thinks would be a "great president"?), the news that DeWine is out of the running for Ohio Attorney General is welcome.

In the meantime, on the Democrat side, another Dispatch story this week broke the news that Gov. Ted Strickland will endorse state Treasurer Richard Cordray for attorney general at a press conference later today.

During the 2006 election, Cordray observed that "with Ted (Strickland,) Marc (Dann) and myself on the ticket, I think it is legitimate to say that part of the Democrat’s resurgence in Ohio is demonstrating that we, as a party, are running candidates who support gun rights. The concealed carry law, which I support, is an excellent example of how the ‘wild, wild west’ predictions were way off base, and it isn’t the law abiding citizen gun owner that we should be worried about."

With anti-gun Republicans Mike DeWine and Ron O'Brien out, and anti-gun Democrat Lee Fisher seemingly happy in his current job as Lt. Governor, Priority Number One for electing pro-gun candidates (MAKE SURE THERE IS ALWAYS A PRO-GUN CANDIDATE TO CHOOSE FROM) seems to be staying in focus.

The Dispatch story informs readers that Delaware County Prosecutor David Yost is the only GOP candidate to declare to central committee members his interest in running - a development that appears to be very good for gun owners indeed.

Chad Baus is a Member of the Fulton County, OH Republican Central Committee and the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.