Letters to the Editor: Concealed Carry THE hot topic in Ohio

Judging by the frequency of letters to the editor on the topic alone, it is clear that concealed carry reform in particular, and some Republican's lack of leadership in general, are THE hot topics facing the Ohio legislature this fall.

Not Nuts, by a Long Shot
October 30, 2003
City Beat (Cincinnati)

Regarding Greg Flannery's article, Show of Force (issue of Oct. 1-7), I was there at the Northside march. He blew it, big time. "Vigilante posse?" Ridiculous! Sixty people? He can't count. We had 84 people sign in. Plus about 20 cops who didn't want to sign in for fear their departments might retaliate. They don't want to have to rely on the "Affirmative Defense" when they retire.

As for the group being all white, I had two neighborhood black men walking alongside me at one point and we discussed the problems with the neighborhood. There were many more than three women, as well as a little girl, who were directly around me. Hence it wasn't just a "vigilante posse" of white men.

If anyone was behaving badly, it was Aaron Rogers with his silly squirt gun. He was provocative, profane and rude and had no facts to back up his claims. There was only one reasonable person in the group that protested us, and I was able to have a civil conversation with him, the chap with the shaved head and beard.

Why did Flannery not mention that there were only eight anti-self defense protesters? He downsized our group by half. Why did he not mention how few of them there were? Hardly objective reporting on his behalf, in my view. It speaks poorly of your publication that the standards of honesty and detail are not higher.

You can see me in the picture used. The yellow post in the right side of the picture. My left knee is level with its top. I am wearing beige pants and a blue coat. If you look to the left of me, you'll see a red blotch -- that was the shirt of one of the neighborhood black men I was talking with. His face is hidden by the man in front of him. He marched with us because he was shot in this neighborhood near his home and wants his rights to self defense restored -- as do all who marched.

Gun nuts? Now there's objective language. Some of these people own only one gun, and it's for defense of hearth and home. For most there's no obsession with guns. They want to be able to defend themselves. Why does that get them the label "gun nuts?"

Concealed carry benefits everyone, even those who don't arm themselves. Since the weapon is concealed, the criminal doesn't know who's armed and is deterred from attacking. It works well in [45] other states. It has reduced crime in those states.

Rogers and the seven other protesters can decry "blood in the streets" and "Dodge City," but the facts don't back up the balderdash they were spewing. So I suggest you might want to research this subject a bit more and put a reporter on this to give fair coverage next time.

-- Timothy Inwood

Click on the "Read More..." link below to review two anti-concealed carry letters, including one from a Perrysburg police officer who says government should "make it tough to own guns."

Lessons of California
October 27, 2003
Akron Beacon-Journal

It is my understanding that the founding fathers, when framing the Constitution, argued long and hard over the question of whether our new nation should be a democracy or a republic. They finally adopted the republican model. The recent chaotic recall/election debacle in California
certainly proved the wisdom of their choice.

California also reawakened the questions about voting accuracy and rights. Why is it possible -- and even demanded, by the gun lobby -- that there be near-instant registration for firearms, but we can't seem to arrive at a system for instant verification of our votes?

Donald G. Amtsberg
Akron

Commentary:
Uh, Mr. Amtsberg. The "gun lobby" hasn't EVER demanded "registration of firearms", let alone making it "near-instant." Self-defense rights supporters have requested that if a background check system be forced upon law-abiding citizens, that it not be used to delay or even prevent the purchase of a legal product, ownership of which is Constitutionally protected. Aside from that, you've got a point - we COULD stand to get better voter verification equipment, and help prevent all the voter irregularities such as the ones in Democrat-controlled precincts in Florida in 2000.

Make it tough to own guns

October 21, 2003
Toledo Blade

The attempt to legalize a concealed weapon is a disaster waiting to happen.
Our obsession with weapons goes back to the days of the Old West, where we
would settle our differences in the street. Criminals will always find weapons; Joe Citizen does not need to carry a weapon unless there is a reason.

We find lawmakers stating that the crime rate goes down when Joe carries a gun. What I see is a guy who has never been in any trouble get road rage, pull out his gun, and the disaster starts.

What about alcohol? The bars are a good place for that. We all know that you
will not be able to carry a weapon in an establishment, but how many will
feel a "little bigger" knowing that gun is there if they only disobey the law thinking "I won't get caught." What about the friendly "let me show you what I have" and before you know it another disaster.

As a police officer and security officer, I can speak for many of my brothers and sisters in law enforcement. We do not need more guns. As it stands right now, we treat every traffic stop with caution knowing that a
weapon may be there. With CCW, will everyone follow the rules and keep their
gun in plain view? I doubt it.

With that in mind, please direct all this energy away from carrying guns and
toward laws which make it harder to have one.

TOM BIALY
Perrysburg

Commentary:
Mr. Baily needs to get out more. All the things he is frightened of - shootouts at fender-benders, ego-trips in bars, etc - are just not happening in other states, including the one he lives just 20 miles from - Michigan.

The officer raises the spectre of the Wild West, without acknowledging that Ohio's 19th century open carry law resembles the Old West far more than does modern self-defense legislation.

Finally, Baily expresses concern about how licenseholders will behave at traffic stops. He also admits he is already trained and in the practice of treating every driver as if they are armed. By stating this, he has just proven our point - those who do not care about the law are ALREADY breaking it at will, and thus his training. Those who advocate House Bill 12 are very-much concerned about following the letter of the law, and of them, he has NOTHING to fear.

Related Stories:
CBS: Bystander Uses Firearm to Save Texas Cop

National F.O.P. President says CCW saves lives

Burden of Proof: Taft and Highway Patrol have no case against CCW