Buckeye Firearms Association endorses Jon Husted for Ohio Secretary of State

Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) is pleased to announce our endorsement of Jon Husted (R) for Ohio Secretary of State in the 2010 general election.

As noted in our primary endorsement of Jon Husted, he has a 100% voting record on our issue during his time in the legislature, including State Representative, State Senator and Speaker of the House. He is one of the few political candidates to have earned an "A+" rating from the BFA this year.

In his long tenure in the Ohio legislature, Husted has voted with gun owners at least 14 straight times. He voted for a good concealed carry bill multiple times, and more importantly he voted against a terrible version after the Ohio Senate destroyed good legislation. He voted for a hunter apprentice bill, statewide preemption and the elimination of the "plain sight" requirement for concealed carry license holders in cars. He voted for Castle Doctrine, impaired hunters legislation, elimination of nonsensical car carry restrictions and the ban on carrying in restaurants that sell alcohol if the licensee is not consuming any alcohol.

In 2006, when Governor Bob Taft vetoed HB347, a comprehensive concealed carry law reform and statewide preemption, then-Speaker Husted acted quickly to bring an override vote to the floor. Acting just three hours after Governor Taft announced his veto, the House of Representatives overrode the veto by a vote of 71 to 21. That immediate and impressive vote led to the Senate joining in what is the only gubernatorial veto override in Ohio in more than 30 years.

Husted has been a leader on our issue. As we have seen many times, it takes strong leaders to move firearms bills. Husted proved his mettle as Speaker and had the document affirming the veto override framed for his office. He is rightfully proud of his work, and viewing his large signature, one is reminded of another famous "JH" who happens to have the largest signature on our Declaration of Independence. Such is the character of Jon Husted.

Without Husted's strong leadership, the veto override would not have happened. That vote led to statewide preemption, elimination of anti-gun local ordinances, and a favorable ruling at the Ohio Supreme Court level. It allowed us to move forward to pass 'Castle Doctrine' and more than a dozen other critical improvements to Ohio's firearms laws last session. Its importance can not be overstated.

Husted's opponent this fall, Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, was part of a Columbus city council that passed a so-called assault weapons ban only five days after the veto override on HB347. She clearly stands on the opposite side of the gun debate from Jon Husted and has appeared on television shows promoting anti-gun and unconstitutional laws. We should demand that all elected officials honor and obey our laws.

Ohio needs Jon Husted as our next Secretary of State.