Delphos man wins court battle to get CCW license

The following article was originally published by The Lima News. Republished with permission.

by Greg Sowinski

A Delphos veteran who sued the sheriff after he was denied a concealed carry license said Thursday he knew he would win while sharply criticizing the sheriff.

"The sheriff overstepped his authority and broke the law. I tried twice to tell him before filing the lawsuit and he treated me as if I were not worth of speaking to him and blew me off," James Redmon said.

Van Wert County Sheriff Tom Riggenbach denied Redmon a concealed carry license citing in a letter a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder that was more than six years old. Riggenbach also said he took into consideration Redmon once had been charged with felony crimes when he made the decision.

Redmon never was convicted of the crimes, which Redmon said had unique circumstances. Redmon said he kicked in a drug dealer's door and beat up the drug dealer after that person did not listen to his warning to stay away from one of his friends who was trying to get off drugs.

Redmon reached a deal in the criminal case to accept treatment which he successfully completed instead of having a conviction go on his record.

Riggenbach said Thursday he has issued Redmon a concealed carry license as Van Wert County Common Pleas Judge Charles Steele ordered.

"I respect any decision Judge Steele issues from his court and part of my job is to follow any instruction he gives my office," Riggenbach said.

But Redmon said Riggenbach tried everything possible to deny him a license including making Redmon spend money to fight for his right Riggenbach should never have challenged.

"I will not be bullied by a badge that is breaking the law," Redmon said.

Riggenbach declined further comment.

In the ruling, Steele said Ohio is a "shall issue" state meaning if someone meets the requirements the sheriff must issue a license.

Redmon never was committed to a mental health facility or ruled incompetent. Furthermore, he does not have a criminal conviction on his record.

Redmon, a veteran of the Gulf War, further criticized Riggenbach saying Ohio law requires county sheriffs to handle the issuing of concealed carry licenses. He said that means sheriffs must fully understand the law. Redmon said he never should have had to take Riggenbach to court to show the sheriff he was violating the law.

"The sheriff can no longer claim he does not know the law. In my mind, as a citizen, I expect my law enforcement officer to know the law, especially a law that is specific to the sheriff and the sheriff alone," he said. "As a citizen I am not allowed to use ignorance of the law as an excuse for breaking it."