Lima News editorial: Call senators on concealed carry

Lima News
October 14, 2003

Gun owners turned out across the state Sunday to demand that lawmakers remove Ohio’s ban on carrying concealed weapons. It was the right message to send, and those who want to carry concealed guns — or who just believe in allowing responsible people to take steps to ensure their safety — now should send the message more directly.

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Some 150 people turned out in Lima for the Defense Walk, versions of which took place around the state. It’s obvious people want to be able to carry concealed weapons. They now have another way to send that message to Columbus.

The group Ohioans for Concealed Carry is using its Web site (www.ofcc.net) to ask people to contact their state senators to declare whether they are willing to override Gov. Bob Taft’s threatened veto of a House bill that would restore Ohioans’ right to carry concealed weapons. The Senate made changes to the bill to ensure that Gov. Bob Taft wouldn’t veto it. Senate President Doug White has stalled the concealed carry legislation since June by refusing to appoint conferees to reach a compromise, instead waiting for Taft and the House to mend their differences.

White’s stall tactics are irresponsible. He is sidestepping the built-in system of checks and balances in government in order to avoid a fight among Ohio’s Republican leadership.

Drug dealers and murderers are not waiting on lawmakers to lift the ban before they start carrying concealed weapons. They already have guns and they already tote them around with them. A restriction on carrying concealed weapons punishes only people like those out marching Sunday in cities across Ohio — law-abiding people who aren’t carrying concealed weapons because it’s illegal to do so.

Ohioans should give their senators a call and tell them to make their stand, forcing White to move on this important legislation.

Click here to read the editorial in the Lima News.