The letter the Plain Dealer refused to publish

OFCC’s Jim Irvine recently sent a letter to the editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer regarding the newspaper’s failure to report when crimes happen in places where “no-guns” signs are posted. Irvine also took the newspaper to task for its failure to use the Media Access Loophole as they claimed they would when lobbying for it.

The Plain Dealer, specifically Mr. Doug Clifton, did not respond, nor did the PD publish the letter. And so we shall do so here.

To the Editor:

In the Saturday, January 29 story, "Man shot in chest during robbery attempt in parking lot" the Plain Dealer did not mention that the Collinwood Food Mart posts a sign that says, "No guns."
Why didn't the shooter obey the sign? Maybe the shooter was there because of the sign. Maybe that is why 5/3 banks (who also display a "No guns" sign) are robbed frequently.

The Plain Dealer posts a "No gun" sign. In light of the two killed and two more wounded by gunfire at the Jeep plant in Todedo (which has a no guns policy) last week, does anyone really believe the signs ever stop a killing? Or do they just stop good employees/customers from stopping the killer?

How many more innocent people will die before companies reexamine policies that prohibit decent, well trained, and state licensed, people from using a gun to stop these killers? How long will they hang a sign on the door advertising their policy to murderers looking for an easy kill? Sadly, the toll continues to rise.

Doug Clifton claims the Plain Dealer prints the names of Concealed Handgun License (CHL) holders as a "public service." Why doesn't the paper state that the shooter did not have a CHL? Why doesn't the paper state that this location banned guns? His "service" is as hollow as the promise on "No guns" signs that seem to be so prevalent in places people keep getting shot.

Were still waiting for the service, Mr. Clifton.

Jim Irvine
Ohioans for Concealed Carry
Strongsville