Ohio's working families deserve right to self-defense to and from jobs

Man shot, injured on way to West End job
February 19, 2004
Cincinnati Post

A builder on his way to work in the West End today was shot as he drove onto his construction site this morning.

Police said the man, Alan Stenger, was stopped by a pedestrian as he was driving a white Dodge Ram pickup into the Reece Campbell construction site at Linn Street and Derrick Turnbow Avenue, at 8:10 a.m. The two spoke for a moment before the man outside the truck fired several shots, striking the Stenger in the left side of the torso.

Police don't know what the men talked about or what the motive for the shooting might have been, said police spokesman Lt. Anthony Carter.

Police said Stenger is the site manager at the West End project where three-story townhouses are going up.

The gunman was described as African-American, 5-feet-4, to 5-feet-8, bow-legged, with a stocky build. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, possibly with a ball cap underneath.

Witnesses today told police the gunman ran south on Linn and got into the back seat of an older-model white or sky blue Chevy that went south on Linn.

Commentary:
This victim's employer (and every other employer in Ohio) has been empowered by business lobbyists and Senators to make sure that people are still unable to bear arms for self-defense while traveling to and from work, even after the state begins issuing concealed handgun licenses (CHLs).

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

Not only can employers and businesses prohibit guns on inside their buildings (the same prohibition could be made to apply to guns in company-owned or leased cars), they can also tell you what you may (not) keep in your car while in their parking lot.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Manufacturer's Association fought for this provision in HB12. Senator Steve Stivers carried water for them in the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, which was chaired by Sen. Steve Austria.

Kentucky law does not allow businesses to dictate what CHL-holders keep in their vehicles while on business property. Did any of these lobbyists think to call the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce before supporting this amendment in the Senate? Did they ask if there have been problems with liability or insurance issues, or with compliance to OSHA standards, or with ANYTHING at all to do with the Kentucky parking lot exception? NO. But we did:

Mr. Jeff Alan, Director of Legislative Education in the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, has told OFCC that they did not oppose this language when the bill was being considered. Further, he said that in the 7 years since the law was passed, they haven't had EVEN ONE report of a business having troubles with the parking lot exemption. What's more, there is no history of any litigation on the issue. Mr. Jim Ford, Director of Business Education, travels around the state to businesses large and small. He concurred with Mr. Alan.

The thing to keep in mind here is this: Kentucky's law, unlike HB12, does not give KY businesses the blanket immunity that HB12 does. So what do Ohio's business lobbyists have to fear? Nothing.

On the other hand, disarmed employees and customers, it would appear, have a great deal to fear if businesses obstruct their right to self-defense, even in their personal automobile.