Letters to the Editor: Toledo Blade's concealed carry law attitude patronizing

January 30, 2004
Toledo Blade

I was offended by your "we know what is really good for you attitude." You spoke harshly and inanely against the concealed-carry law just passed in Ohio. When was the last time any of you walked the mean streets of Toledo?

Those of us who live and work in Toledo have been under fire from the criminals for a very long time, and it seems to be intensifying. If I, for one, could carry a weapon, I would feel 100 percent safer. I hope that the criminals will now think again before they rape, rob, or steal. Just think, the victim may now be armed and the criminal might get hurt. If they only have the brains to realize that fact, we all really might be safer.

Certainly, I understand your concern for the welfare of our police officers and support it. I am the father of a Toledo Police Department officer. Our police have been concerned about traffic stops for a long time, even before the new law. How many police officers have been shot by criminals carrying weapons unlawfully?

Do they face that much more danger by stopping the "pistol-packing grandma" who objects to getting a ticket?

The Blade needs to stop acting as if it is the only one with intelligence in this town. Stop trying to mold us into your idea of a "perfect society." Average Toledoans can think for themselves and form their own opinions.

JOHN J.N. FRY
Queen Street

Click on the "Read More..." link below for two more responses, published on February 1, 2004.

Are CCW holders less civilized?

You recently editorialized that the concealed-carry law will make the dangerous business of law enforcement even riskier.

I seriously doubt that this prediction will ever be borne out. You should revisit this after the law has been in effect for a couple of years. I predict that there will be no "blood in the streets" or the other disastrous results as you predict. I feel that there will be no significant problems for law enforcement traffic stops with legal CCW holders and that we will see a small decrease in violent crimes.

Why should the legal CCW holders of Ohio be any less civilized than those of our neighboring states or have any different results?

ROBERT MATTHEWS
Liberty Center, Ohio

Concealed-carry a constitutional issue

Marilou Johanek, in "Ohioans held hostage by the Republicans," was correct in her assertion that legislation to permit "concealed carry" should not have been on the legislative agenda. What was wrong was her reason for it.

The original legislation prohibiting "concealed carry" was, in this writer's opinion, unconstitutional in the first place. Since when do we as citizens have to justify protecting ourselves to government or the electorate? Whether a referendum on "concealed carry" would have passed is irrelevant.

As a constitutional democracy such issues, as this, should not be decided by popular vote. Protection of an individual's life and liberty is a constitutional guarantee.

PAUL WROE
309th Street