Bureau of Workers' Comp snub: OFCC members' concerns ''overblown''

August 23, 2004
Columbus Daily Reporter

Bureau of Workers' Comp in concealed carry PAC's crosshairs

The political action committee, Ohioans For Concealed Carry is accusing the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation of discriminating against Ohio gun-owners and spreading politically driven anti-gun rhetoric.

The source of OFCC's beef is an article that ran in the Summer 2004 edition of Workers' Comp Quarterly, published by BWC.

OFCC spokesman Chad Baus said several paragraphs "addressing conceal-carry law and workplace safety" were misguided and false.

Rick Burson, the contributing writer who authored the article wrote: "Because of the risk of injuries caused by mishandled firearms or intentional acts of violence, the workplace should be added to the list of places where firearms cannot be carried."

Burson also quoted BWC special investigator and security director Tom Wersell as advising "business owners to develop a clear and concise policy informing employees and visitors, that carrying a concealed weapon is prohibited on company property. This is one more way to provide a safe environment both for your workers and your customers," Wersell said.

Baus referred to these statements as "very poor advice" that would lead workplaces to be less safe.

"Their (BWC's) big excuse is that there may be accidents, but there is no evidence that concealed carry causes accidents...either to patrons or employees. We know statistically most multiple victim public shootings occur in places where firearms are banned. (BWC) has to have more than rhetorical political 'what ifs' for its employer clients," he said.

When asked if a possible workplace gun accident were not more likely than a mass murder at work, Baus said, "Common sense doesn't always work. Statistics are more important. Assuming gets you into trouble. People at ConAgra assumed those signs would protect them."

In July, a ConAgra employee in Kansas shot and killed six coworkers and then committed suicide.

Baus accused Wersell of an outright lie in the BWC security director's comments that "the reality is, there are a lot more places you can't carry a gun than places you can."

Of more than 200,000 businesses in Ohio, OFCC says, about 1,500 prohibit firearms. The pro-gun PAC has "outted" each of these Ohio businesses on their Web site and encourages citizens to boycott these establishments. OFCC even provides a downloadable "No Guns-No Money" card so angry gun owners can leave them at anti-gun businesses.

"The main thing with BWC is that the article isn't a safety piece, it's a political piece," Baus said. "They don't offer evidence that putting up those signs promotes safety."

He said he also is concerned that taxpayer money is being used to promote anti-safety misinformation.

"Now that they published a political piece, they owe it to Ohio businesses to publish a safety piece."

Jeremy Jackson said OFCC's concerns are overblown.

"Some employers asked us to put together a brief piece for our magazine identifying, if they wanted to make their workplace weapons free, how to do it."

Jackson said, BWC doesn't have a position on the concealed carry debate.

"Our concern is meeting the needs of our customers and helping to make workplaces safer."

Ohio employers receive no rate reductions if they ban guns at their facilities, Jackson said. The issue is not even being considered by BWC.

But, if BWC gives employers discounts for drug-free workplaces, why not gun-free workplaces?

"We have no position on the matter and are not discussing at all any type of discount program that would involve concealed carry."

Baus was also upset that in the Workers' Comp Quarterly article the BWC neglected to inform concerned employers that they are free from liability if they allow guns on work premises.

HB12 absolves all employers, whether they allow or ban guns at their establishments, from liability lawsuits related to gun violence.

Rather than leaning against guns, OFCC thinks BWC should lean in favor of guns. The reason: James L. Dailey.

According to OFCC's Web site, in 1996 Dailey, upset because of a denied benefit claim, walked into BWC's Columbus offices with a shotgun, three cans of gasoline and a lighter. Dailey took hostages, one of whom was an ex-FBI agent. This former G-Man, James Carter eventually overpowered and disarmed Dailey.

OFCC claims that if BWC customers and staff were allowed to pack concealed weapons, they could have shot and/or deterred Dailey.

BWC has "first-hand knowledge that gun bans don't work," said Baus. Signs will not stop criminals, he said, and "gun control does not stop gun crime."

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OFCC has learned the BWC is refusing to respond to inquiries sent to the public institution by concerned citizens:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: CCW
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 14:59:48 -0400
From: [email protected]

The communications department will not be responding to any inquiries regarding the recent article in Workers' Comp Quarterly magazine, "Addressing conceal-carry law and workplace safety." A statement will be published in the next issue addressing this matter.

Thank you,

Vicky Pannell

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UNsafe: OH Workers' Comp bureaucrats advise ''ban''