Toledo residents continue trend of gun buying in wake of police layoffs

By Chad D. Baus

When word of significant cuts to the Toledo police force first came out, one senior police officer issued the following recommendation to city residents:

After the layoffs took effect, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner admitted the reason why this was such good advice:

There are continuing indications that Toledo residents are taking the advice to purchase guns quite seriously. In fact, the most recent news story on the matter, from WTOL Toledo (the city's CBS affiliate) was featured this week as national news the Drudge Report.

From the story:

The first round of Toledo police layoffs, in which 75 officers were let go, may already be having an affect on gun ownership.

"I just don't feel safe with the amount they're laying off," says Jonna Ewing. "I think it's going to be a longer respond time."

She is spending the day at a conceal carry class. She's been thinking of getting a gun for awhile, but feels now's the time due to the recent layoffs.

She's not alone.

The story goes on to provide quotes from Tom Urbanski, who teaches the conceal carry classes through Ski's Firearms Training & Consulting.

"People are panicking, they're figuring the only way they can protect themselves is for them to protect themselves," says Urbanski. "So yeah, my business is booming."

Urbanski says since the presidential election and the collapse of the economy, people have become more interested in owning guns.

He says locally the police layoffs and recent attacks on the elderly are only fueling the fire, especially for senior citizens.

"They don't have much support out there. Their family is not visiting as often so they're having to be their own protectors. I'm seeing an increase in the elderly."

The news story concludes by saying that for Toledoans like Jonna, "having a gun and knowing how to use it means she'll sleep just a little better."

Also featured on the Drudge Report this week was news that up to 300 Columbus police officers could lose their jobs in August. Ironically, CNN is reporting that many of these are officers that President Obama touted as a "saved jobs" success story related to passage of his massive government stimulus plan earlier this year.

In 2007, anti-gun Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman bragged about the city's now-defunct 'assault' weapons ban, even after it cost the cash-strapped city $20 million in revenue when the NRA decided to relocate its annual meetings to a more gun-friendly city.

It now appears likely that Mayor Coleman may soon be joining fellow (Misguided) Mayors Against Illegal Guns member Carty Finkbeiner by admitting to Columbus residents that that city's police force, like Toledo's, is unable to protect residents. And Columbus residents will no-doubt come to the same realization that Toledoans have - namely that it is time to take steps to provide for their own safety.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman, and and teaches the Ohio concealed carry class through Northwest Self Defense LLC.