Cleveland-area 'Group's weapon walk plan going great guns'

Lorain Morning Journal 10/17/2003

LORAIN -- This Sunday at high noon a stretch of West Erie Avenue between Lakeview Park and City Hall will resemble the Old West -- if you take away the cars, paved roads, Northeast Ohio climate and traffic lights.

About 70 people carrying holstered pistols will walk from the park to City Hall to demonstrate in support of House Bill 12, a state law stalled in Columbus that would let ordinary citizens carry concealed firearms.

''What would you rather have -- people openly carry guns or carrying concealed firearms?'' asked Daniel White, a 29-year-old Lorain native who is organizing the walk. ''We don't want to get in people's faces. We are urging people to call their congressman.''

Under Ohio law, it is legal to carry a firearm as long as it is in open view, with restrictions. People can't carry a gun into a police station or a courtroom, for example, and they aren't permitted to keep an unsecured firearm in their car.

White, who has never been the victim of a violent crime, said he got the idea from similar walks held in Cincinnati and Columbus. He said he wants people to understand that a state with concealed carry is a far safer than one without it.

''Every day you open the newspaper and read about someone getting raped or robbed or killed,'' he said. ''If someone robs a store, and they see someone carrying (a gun out in the open), that's the first person they're going to shoot ... it puts everyone else at risk.''

It will be up to each participant to decide whether to carry a loaded or unloaded firearm, but White said people are asked to only carry pistols, not rifles or shotguns.

A safety seminar will be held immediately preceding the walk at about 11 a.m. Sunday, White said.

Lorain Law Director Mark Provenza said earlier this week that the march is legal, but he recommended that police escort the participants.

Two police officers will accompany the participants, White said, but police Chief Cel Rivera was unavailable for comment.

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