Another law enforcement official endorses concealed carry reform in Ohio
For years, Bob Taft has been avoiding his Constitutional duty to recognize Ohioan's right to bear arms for self-defense. Lacking leadership qualities, he hides behind a claim that he "will support a bill that has law enforcement support."
When the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association came on board, Taft reduced his definition of law enforcement to the Fraternal Order of Police and Ohio State Highway Patrol. When the F.O.P. dropped it's opposition, Taft narrowed his definition of "law enforcement" to a few unelected bureacrats at the Ohio State Highway Patrol (whose funding he approves in each budget).
3/4ths of Ohioans For Concealed Carry's Board of Directors are law enforcement officers. Thousands of Ohio law enforcement officers have signed the petitions we've been distributing for the past few years.
As the truth about Taft's opposition and abuse of the law enforcement community becomes clear, more and more street-level law enforcement officers are speaking out about the truth on concealed carry reform. Lt. Dave Spaulding, Montgomery Co., is the latest.
His statement follows:
August 20, 2003
"Any law enforcement officer who has ever been involved in street-level enforcement activities knows that the police cannot protect individual citizens. While police agencies are very good at protecting society as a whole, it is impossible to be everywhere, all the time. It is the
responsibility of the individual citizen to ensure his or her own personal security. This is why I support having CCW in Ohio.
Over the last 27 years, I have seen numerous situations where legally-armed citizens have protected themselves from harm at the hands of violent felons. I am completely convinced that the people who will apply for a CCW permit will be the law-abiding citizens . . . trust me, the criminals already carry guns and have no interest in getting a permit. The experience of 30-plus other U.S. states has proven the crime-fighting ability of a CCW law."
Lt. Dave Spaulding
Law Enforcement Officer/Trainer
Montgomery County, Ohio
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