BFA endorsees to pack House & Senate majority leadership for 131st General Assembly

Buckeye Firearms Association endorsees have been elected by House & Senate Republicans to a majority of leadership positions in their respective chambers for the 131st General Assembly, which convenes in January.

The incoming House Republican Caucus elected BFA "A"-rated Rep. Cliff Rosenberger to serve as speaker of the House for the 131st General Assembly.

The other members of next year's House Republican leadership team are:

• "A"-rated Rep. Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania), who maintains her current position as majority leader.
• "A+"-rated Rep. Jim Buchy (R-Greenville), who will be the assistant majority floor leader.
• "A+"-rated Rep. Mike Dovilla (R-Berea), who becomes the majority whip.
• "A"-rated Rep. Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville), who will be the assistant majority whip.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans reelected their leaders to their same posts under "A"-rated Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina).

The Senate Republican Majority also retained:

• "A"-rated Sen. Chris Widener (R-Springfield) as president pro tem
• "A"-rated Sen. Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) as majority floor leader
• "A"-rated Sen. Larry Obhof (R-Medina) as majority whip.

Gun owners are encouraged to contact these Senators and Representatives, congratulate them on their appointments, and express your hope that pro-gun legislation will take center stage in the 131st General Assembly.

In Guns & Ammo's ranking of "Best States for Concealed Carry," Ohio ranks 41st, and falls far behind all of its border states. Michigan, which passed concealed carry one year before Ohio, ranks 31st. West Virgina ranks 32nd, Pennsylvania is 15th, Indiana comes in 14th and Kentucky is ranked 11th.

If they have any hope of bringing the Buckeye State into the 21st century when it comes to gun rights, Ohio's pro-gun rights legislators have their work cut out for them. Despite having a Republican-dominated General Assembly, no pro-gun legislation has been sent to the governor's desk since December 2012. While the Ohio House passed House Bill 203, an important concealed carry reform bill last year, the Ohio Senate has failed to act.

If legislators do not act, HB 203 and many other pro-gun bills that are pending will die at the end of December, and will need to be re-introduced in the next session.

If you want to see the General Assembly act to improve gun rights in ways that are already enjoyed by the majority of other states, call your Representative and Senator NOW and tell them you expect pro-gun legislation to move in Ohio BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. They asked for your vote on Tuesday, November 4. Tell them we want their votes too.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.