Mea culpa: Bureau of Workers' Comp buries ''apology'' on page 9

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has learned that, in response to questions raised about the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation's use of its quarterly newsletter's front page this summer to promote an anti-concealed carry agenda, has buried a short "clarification" on page 9 of the Fall issue of Worker's Comp Quarterly.

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Clarification

The summer 2004 issue of Workers' Comp Quarterly (Volume 1, Issue 3) included an article titled "Addressing conceal-carry law and workplace safety." The article was published as a result of inquires from our customers for suggestions as to the safest way to create a weapons-free work zone. The article was not intended to advocate one way or the other on the issue, and we apologize if it was interpreted in this way.

Also, the article provided misinformation regarding the storage of firearms in the trunk of a vehicle while at work, specifically, if you store a firearm in your vehicle while at work, lock it in the trunk, not the glove compartment."

For additional information regarding Ohio's Concealed Carry Law, log onto the Ohio Attorney's General's Office Web site at www.ag.state.oh.us.

End QUOTE-

This short statement comes after the BWC refused any requests to answer questions which came in to the "contact BWC" email following the original publication.

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Questions about whether or not the front page story in the Summer 2004 Issue of Worker's Comp Quarterly article was meant to be an advocacy piece remain. The article, written by Rick Burson, stated as follows:

"Because of the risk of injuries caused by mishandled firearms or intentional acts of violence, the workplace should be added to the list of places where firearms cannot be carried."

In the article, Tom Wersell, the Bureau's special investigations/ security director advised:

"Business owners develop a clear and concise policy informing employees and visitors that carrying a concealed weapon is prohibited on company property."

"This is one more way to provide a safe environment for both your workers and your customers."

Amazingly, Wersell was also quoted in the article making an absolutely false statement:

"The reality is, there are a lot more places you can't carry a gun than places you can."

To date, no apology has been offered for this false statement.

The majority of multiple victim-public shootings occur where guns are banned, and the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation has no business offering such negligent advice to private companies.

In a recent article on the controversy, OFCC's Chad Baus told the Columbus Daily Reporter, "Now that they published a political piece, they owe it to Ohio businesses to publish a safety piece."

Clearly that article still needs to be written.

To express your concerns about this state agency offering advice in the name of "safety" that is provably UNsafe, and about their refusal to correct the record:

Click here to access House & Senate phone numbers.
*Telephone communications are preferred over email.

Contact information for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation follows:

Governor Bob Taft
Administrator/CEO James Conrad
30 W. Spring St., Third Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-2256
800-644-6292
FAX: 877-520-6446
Online BWC Contact Page

Inquiries can also be emailed to [email protected]

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