Letters to the Editor: More Toledoans respond to ''Miss-Led''

On January 13 and 18th, the Toledo Blade published two anti-concealed carry editorials - Legally armed and dangerous and
Ohioans held hostage by the Republicans. The responses are STILL coming in from angry readers.

February 10, 2004
Toledo Blade

Concealed-carry: Some predictions

A Jan. 13 editorial proclaimed that passage of Ohio's new concealed carry law will "make the dangerous business of law enforcement even riskier."

I challenge you and any other person who is predicting blood in the streets, Wild West shootouts, and other dire scenarios to mark your calendars for April, 2006, when the law will have been in effect for two years.

On that date, my predictions are that with regards to legal CCW holders, there will have been no wrongful shootings, no law enforcement officer will have any untoward incidents during a traffic stop (or otherwise), violent crime will have declined slightly, and the entire issue will be deemed not newsworthy.

Although not a betting man, I'll take wagers that my predictions are much closer to the mark than yours.

JIM DUNMYER
Temperance

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

Americans have right to self-defense

Marilou Johanek just doesn't get it. Her Jan. 18 column speaks against the new concealed-carry law. More than 1,000 words about why decent, law-abiding citizens should not have the right to defend themselves, and not one word about criminals carrying guns every day, everywhere. She points to "a healthy majority of Ohioans would never vote for it." I have not seen this poll.

Self-respect and respect for others will be the reason a person applies for a carry license. This is not something to be taken lightly. Men and women who decide to carry weapons accept a huge responsibility. These people should be applauded for taking a huge step that has been shown to reduce crime rates in states with concealed-carry laws in place.

Just the thought that someone is carrying protection will be enough to make many crooks stop and think: "Could that lady have a gun?" This is what thugs on the street understand. They will shoot a person for a lousy hundred dollars. But they don't want to be shot, oh no.

Ms. Johanek should do more research, not just from gun control groups. She also should read the monthly journal from the National Rifle Association.

LOUIS F. STEFANONI
Maumee

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