City of Fremont: Not us. Let Toledo get sued over Section 9!

April 16, 2004
Fremont News Messenger

Guns allowed in city parks

Patrons of Fremont public parks will be able to carry concealed weapons after all.

Instead of hearing the first reading of an ordinance to prohibit concealed weapons in public parks, Fremont City officials decided Thursday to see what larger cities will do.

City Law Director Bob Hart told council that after much research on the new concealed-carry law in Ohio, he has found that the city cannot enact any ordinance to prohibit weapons in parks, only city buildings.

"The more I dug into the law, the more I found some problems," Hart said to council and city administrators. "Their intent is that the legislation of this is the general law of the state, so a city cannot enact an ordinance on their own for parks."

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

Hart said Toledo Mayor Jack Ford has publicly announced that he is going ahead with prohibiting guns in parks regardless.

"I think we should take a precautionary approach to this and let other cities test it out first," he said.

Hart did say that the city can prohibit guns in city facilities such as City Hall and private property and business owners have the right to post a sign prohibiting concealed weapons as well.

City resident Kyle Bohland, 18, addressed his concerns to council about people carrying concealed weapons in the parks.

"I think this is still going to be a safety issue," he said. "There will still be people in the parks who didn't get approved for a permit and what happens then if a conflict arises? It is still a safety issue even if the issue isn't with the person carrying the gun, but another person without one."

Councilman At-Large Larry Jackson also thought it was a safety issue.

"I find it very interesting that our state legislature didn't include parks in gun law, but they made sure to include the Statehouse," he said. "Parks are a place where a lot of people gather. I just hope Toledo succeeds so that we can follow suit."

Commentary:
The City of Fremont (like Chardon, Cleveland, Columbus, Dover, Loveland, Newark, Salem and Warren, and the counties of Clinton and Summit), has done the responsible thing after being advised by OFCC of Section 9 of HB12.

Fremont's law director is not willing to make his city a test case says he hopes Toledo succeeds in their attempts to knowingly violate Ohio law.

OFCC supporter Bruce Beatty is leading the grassroots fight to see city officials obey the law in Toledo. Beatty is encouraging concerned citizens to contact members of council, and specifically members of the Law and Criminal Justice Committee at (419) 245-1050. The members of the Committee are:

Karyn McConnell - Chair
Wilma Brown - Vice Chair
Ellen Grachek
Frank Szollosi
Wade Kapszukiewicz (Alternate)
Rob Ludeman (Alternate)

Beatty also suggests calling Mayor Jack Ford's office: (419) 245-1001; and the General Counsel John Madigan (also at (419) 245-1001; the director of Public Safety, Joe Walter at the same number.
You may email your thoughts on their obligation to follow the law of Section 9 via the City of Toledo Council's webpage.

As always, be courteous, civil, diplomatic, and STEADFAST in your opposition to this illegal usurpation of power by the City of Toledo administration. You may also ask why Mr. Madigan and other members of this administration balk at a public debate of this issue. What are they afraid of?