Taft spinners trying to put a new face on years of anti-self-defense rhetoric

Whether a student or not, campus journalism is always good for a read...and sometimes good for a laugh. But as we read this story from the student voice of the Ohio State University, we're not laughing at the writer. Instead, we're laughing at Bob Taft's sudden conversion into a concealed carry advocate.

What to do about concealed guns Taft hopes to ease concerns

The (OSU) Lantern (to read the complete story, free registration is required)
By Julie Slader
January 27, 2004

Gov. Bob Taft intended on taking a bite out of Ohio's crime on Jan. 8, when he signed a legislative bill to legalize the carrying of concealed handguns.

In an effort to prevent crime rates from rising, the Ohio legislature has followed the lead of 45 other states by upholding the Second Amendment as a constitutional right mandated by every law-abiding citizen.

Orest Holubec, spokesman for Taft, said the governor's decision to sign the bill was partially linked to the statistics of declining crime rates in other states.

For the first time in 30 years, the state of Michigan has experienced a 60 percent decrease in its crime polls, which is attributed to the legalization of concealed weapons.

"It has proven to be rather beneficial in other states and has significantly decreased crimes. The governor has always supported the right to bear arms and has received a great amount of support from many Ohioans," Holubec said.

In an attempt to ease the concerns and frustrations of some Ohioans, who fear guns will only contribute to higher crime levels, the governor instituted detailed background checks and an extensive 12-hour training session for any individual interested in purchasing a gun license.

Commentary by Chad D. Baus:

If Taft had always been the advocate he now claims to have been, he would have heeded the mountains of evidence we provided, which proves that the crime-fighting impact of concealed carry laws are lessened with extensive and unnecessary training requirements. Instead of appeasing them, he would have told the "Ohioans who fear guns will only contribute to higher crime levels" to look noticed that neither Pennsylvania nor Indiana have any training requirements whatsoever, and have no problems. Were he such a great supporter of the right to bear arms, he would have told the Ohio State Highway Patrol that their officer safety concerns about law-abiding citizens were baseless, and ordered them to stick to writing speeding tickets.

Bob Taft's past record on concealed carry will never allow him to claim credit for the positive results that are coming. But rest assured, he will have the chance to prove his "conversion" when we begin work with legislators to "reform the reform", and remove the terrible, invasive, and sometimes even dangerous provisions which were inserted by his hand.

Students at Ohio University in Athens are also digging into the question of what the new law means. Click here to read the story in the Athens News.