Citizen goes for CCW walk on ''banned'' Toledo city property
Chalk one up for fair and balanced reporting in Toledo...
On Friday May 21, 13 Action News (ABC affiliate) provided an excellent look at that the City of Toledo's illegal efforts to restrict concealed carry, and violate Section 9 of House Bill 12.
The report came in two parts - a 6:00 p.m. broadcast featured OFCC-supporter and Ohio Cconcealed handgun license (CHL)-holder Bruce Beatty on a walk through downtown Toledo. The reporter followed Beatty on his walk for an hour, interviewing passers-by as to what they perceived to be "different" about him. Not one single person was able to discern that he was carrying.
Although not reference in the report, Beatty was violating a (now illegal, but still on the books) Toledo law which bars possession of a firearm. Not only did Section 9 preempt this law, but so too did the Ohio Supreme Court's ruling last year that openly carrying a firearm is a "fundamental individual right."
The 6:00 report was also used as a lead-in to the 11:00 report, in which Action News did a detailed investigation into the laws which the City of Toledo is in violation of. Toledo city officials refused to speak on camera, and you won't believe what a TARTA city bus official claimed was his reason for violating Section 9. Quotes from the Ohio Attorney General's office and relevant sections of the law are referred to in the report as response to these public officials obviously illegal efforts.
Cudos to 13 Action News! Click here to watch the 6 minute report (combined 6 & 11 newscasts) via Windows Media.
A letter has been submitted by Mr. Beatty to local news editors, in effort to get them to report on this newsworthy event.
Thus far, no print publications have written stories or covered the issue in any way beyond their initial headlines screaming that the City was still banning firearms in parks.
Editor:
Today, May 20, 2004, I had the pleasure of taking a "walk in the park" in defiance of the proposed ban on concealed carry in the City of Toledo, which, I might add, is in contravention of state law, by the Ford administration.
In the company of a WTVG Channel 13 Action News crew, I walked around the City of Toledo legally carrying a concealed handgun. My walk included downtown city streets, TARTA bus stops, city parks, jogging trails, and bike paths.
I am pleased to say that I was neither molested, mugged, raped, robbed, murdered, or arrested. Also, no one was shot, killed, injured, nor criminally attacked in my presence. Additionally, most people interviewed did not have an adverse reaction, panic attack, loss of control of bodily functions, or other problems with my actions.
My motive was to disprove the allegations on the part of the City of Toledo that law-abiding citizens, legally possessing a firearm in public, are a threat to public order and safety, including "the children". I also intended to challenge the position of the City of Toledo that We, the People, cannot be trusted to responsibly and intelligently provide for our own self defense as citizens.
I have drawn my "line in the sand", so to speak. The restrictions put forth by the City of Toledo are Illegal, unlawful, immoral, unethical, and place the citizens of Toledo in the unfortunate position to pay for, through taxation, the actions of those in city government who openly, blatantly, willfully, and knowingly violate the laws of the State of Ohio.
Should the City of Toledo choose to attempt to prosecute, I am more than willing to have my "day in court". I must ask, though, if city officials are so determined to enacted such unlawful prohibitions, why will they not agree to an open debate on this issue? My goal is not to embarrass; it is to hold our elected and appointed officials responsible to their duty and obligation to protect and defend our Rights, and obey the law. I'm patiently waiting for an answer.
Bruce A. Beatty
Luckey, Ohio
Related Stories:
Toledo Concealed Carry Advocate Fires Back
City of Fremont: Not us. Let Toledo get sued over Section 9!
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