Pro-Gun Punditry: Wednesday's Buckeye State Roundabout

By Chris Chumita

There are more stories pertaining to our gun rights in Ohio then we can possibly draw attention to with individual daily commentary. But they are all worthy of mention.

What follows is our review of headlines from around the state though a pro-gun rights lens.

From another home invasion in Cleveland to the release of "The Great New Orleans Gun Grab", these articles should be a part of your required reading!

Click "Read More..." for several days of headlines accompanied by short, concise pro-gun analysis.

11/19/07: Cleveland, Ohio: 74-Year-Old Man Beaten, Stabbed In Home

From the article:

The 74-year-old man said he was doing some repairs to his rental property when Cannon entered the home.

The senior citizen said he was beaten and stabbed with an unknown sharp object. His wallet was also stolen.

More violence rocks the city that is too busy attacking law-abiding gun owners instead of going after real criminals.

11/19/07: Wright Township, Michigan: 8-Year-Old Shoots Younger Sister

From the article:

Police said an 8-year-old boy accidentally shot his 6-year-old sister in the Ottawa County home of their grandparents.

Accidents like this can be avioided. Always remember and follow the basic rules of gun safety and storage.

11/18/07: Jackson, Mississippi: Castle Doctrine Lauded By Gun Advocates

From the article:

The "castle doctrine" law removes the requirement that residents must first seek a safe retreat from an intruder before using deadly force. Similar laws have passed in 20 states in just two years, thanks to an intense lobbying effort by the National Rifle Association.

We need to pass a a "Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground Law" in Ohio ASAP.

11/17/07: State Wide: New Law Needs Looked At Carefully

From the article:

An amendment to the law that restricts access to records of concealed-carry permit holders stipulates a journalist may inspect lists of permit holder names and dates of birth, but may not "copy" the information.

So their take is that "copy" was never meant to include hand-copying...ahem. Bill Clinton indeed.

11/16/07: Bedford Heights, Ohio: Bedford Store Owner Shoots Robbery Suspect

From the article:

A robbery suspect is in fair condition after being shot by a Bedford Heights store owner Thursday night.

This is the third time in five years that someone tried to rob the Northfield Food Mart, and the storeowner is fed up -- and so are some of his customers.

Victims of a violent crime have had enough and are starting to fight back. The victim did the right thing by protecting his customers and himself. There was no way for him to tell if the predator had a real gun or a toy.

11/16/07: Bellaire, Ohio: Police Search For Ohio Student Considered Armed, Dangerous

From the article:

A high school in eastern Ohio has reopened while police continue to a search for a student they consider armed and dangerous.

In order to protect the students and teachers, we must allow any adult to legally carry a firearm for protection if they choose to do so.

11/15/07: Kent, Ohio: Man Accused Of Stabbing 2 People During Robbery

From the article:

Kent police said they arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the stabbing of two people during a home invasion last summer.

Home invasions seem to be happening more and more. At least there maybe some justice for the victims in this case predators were arrested.

11/13/07: State Wide: Experts Offer Tips For Home Security

From the article:

A stranger entered a Central Ohio home through an open garage door, stabbing a mother in front of her children. The woman survived, but the frightening story could have residents double-checking their locks.

There have been several armed home break-ins in the past two weeks, and no part of Central Ohio is safe.

Also from the article:

One of the more controversy security options is to own a gun. While Kingsland doesn't recommend it, others feel differently, Diedrich reported.

Kingsland would rather you protect your home with a size 12 men's shoe instead of a firearm. A shoe won't do much good if an armed man kicks in your door at 3:00 AM.

2007: National: The Great New Orleans Gun Grab

From the website:

August 29, 2005, was a day no American will ever forget. When Hurricane Katrina, one of the top five-strongest storms ever to build in the Atlantic Basin, slammed into the city of New Orleans, her towering storm surge tested the limits of the flood walls and levees protecting one of America’s largest cities. The surge would find them lacking.

As the city filled and drowned, it descended into mass hysteria and anarchy, and within hours became a place that would reveal to Americans whether their Constitution had any more value than the frayed, fragile, brown parchment on which it is written.

As looters and thugs took over, the city’s leaders turned their crosshairs and iron sights toward the lawful, gun-toting citizens who sought nothing more than to defend themselves from the marauding hordes. In what proved to be the greatest real-life test case of the Second Amendment in American history, America failed miserably.

The Great New Orleans Gun Grab tells the story of New Orleans residents who legally defied mandatory evacuation orders to protect their property, and who were subsequently beaten, harassed and robbed of their guns by the very civil authority that was funded and charged to protect them.

The Buckeye Firearms Association had the pleasure of hearing one of the authors discuss this book at this year's Gun Rights Policy Conference. If his book is anything like his speech, this book will be shocking, educational, and entertaining. I"m going to buy this book, and you should too!