Cincinnati crime wave threatens to shut down businesses

A recent shooting on Fountain Square - the heart of Cincinnati's downtown - has a business concerned that this latest crime will be its demise.

A stray bullet from the gunplay that left one man injured and more than 40 people scrambling for cover shortly after 11 p.m. struck the glass facade of Rock Bottom Brewery, a restaurant on the square.

"My concern is that it's going to kill my business," said Eric Yax, Rock Bottom's manager. But, "I don't know what (police) can do" beyond around-the-clock patrols.

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Cincinnati officials were left to strategize Saturday about how to handle the shooting, which could be considered a wake-up call for the businesses that make the downtown tick.

"It was like pop-pop-pop-pop-pop and then everyone's ducking for cover," said a 54-year-old Silverton man, who didn't want to provide his name because no arrests have been made.

"This is right on Fountain Square. This is more than just a shooting. This is violence into the heart of the city on a Friday night.

"That is unbelievable, that someone could bring a loaded revolver right on Fountain Square (and) shoot up the place. What's going on with this city? Are we out of control? This thing shouldn't be glossed over. This is a manifestation of this cancer that's growing."

OFCC PAC Commentary:
This shooting proves once again that gun control laws like Ohio's concealed carry ban serve only to disarm the law-abiding.

The purpose for concealed carry legislation is two-fold:
1) it restores the right to self-defense with a firearm for law-abiding citizens in Ohio
2) it reduces crime, since criminals cannot tell who is armed and who is not, they become less willing to commit crimes against citizens

Any action taken to modify HB12 that has the effect of reducing the number of people who obtain permits, will also reduce the net effect in crime deterrence.

Cincinnati is on pace to have more homicides in 2003 than Indianapolis, a city twice it's size, in a state where concealed carry is allowed with NO training requirements.

Cincinnati businesses are suffering, as are its citizens. So why is the Ohio Chamber of Commerce fighting to weaken this legislation, which would benefit these Cincinnati businesses, along with the rest of Ohio?

Click here to read the entire story in the Cincinnati Enquirer.