Cincy police officer's firearm stolen from parking lot outside ''no-guns'' biz

6:18pm Monday, December 20, 2004

December 19, 2004
WKRC.com (Ch. 12 Cincinnati)

Off-Duty Police Officer's Car & Weapons Stolen

An off-duty police officer's personal car, containing his service weapon was
stolen from a mall parking lot Saturday afternoon.

Police said the Sergeant, who works with the Cincinnati Police Department, was
shopping at Northgate Mall today, when he noticed his car keys were missing.
The officer kept his 9 mm handgun, a taser, baton and police identification in
the car. The car is a 1995 Lexus ES 300. It is maroon with Ohio license plate
number BHU2997.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call CrimeStoppers at
352-3040.

Commentary:
Another gun is now in the hands of a criminal, and there is no one to blame but the criminal... or is there?

Northgate Mall has posted signs which ban concealed carry. When a CHL-holder needs to enter a "no-guns" victim zone, Ohio law currently requires that they leave their firearm in a locked case in "plain sight" in their motor vehicle, or in a locked glove box.

Ohio's new concealed cary law was written so that off-duty police officers (when not acting within the scope of their duties), must obey the same rules as license-holders do (see: Petro: Off-duty officers must obey ''plain sight'' requirements; certain others).

When considering HB12, state senators on the Judiciary Committee on Criminal Justice ignored May 2003 testimony from police officers like Gahanna Police Chief Dennis Murphy, who voiced opposition to the creation of "victim" zones, where people would be required to leave their firearm in their car. Murphy testified that such a law would lead to more gun thefts. Yet again, it is painfully obvious that Chief Murphy was right when he testified before Senators that the safest place for a CHL-holder's firearm is on the hip of it's owner.

Gun ban extremists have been attempting to scare businesses into posting "no-guns" signs, and in at least two cases, have even attempted to profit from marketing such baseless fears (See: Trudeau and O'Neill).

We warned Senators about this, and on something like this, we don't like being right.

It is incumbent upon the incoming 126th General Assembly (2005-2006) to fix Ohio's concealed-carry law by removing the dangerous 'plain sight' provisions and by removing liability immunities for businesses which act to render customers defenseless.

Another police officer's gun stolen from car

OSHP's car carry language contributes to increased potential for firearms theft

Business' CCW bans contribute to increased potential for firearms theft

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Cincy police officer's firearm stolen from parking lot outside ''no-guns'' biz

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Cincy police officer's firearm stolen from parking lot outside ''no-guns'' biz

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