Ohio Gun Ban Lobby and The Agony of Defeat
When does a legislation creating vanity license plates for the 'National Rifle Association Foundation' in Ohio become a victory for gun ban extremists?
When you're gun ban lobbyist Toby Hoover, and when you're desperate to obscure the fact that you've been dealt yet another in a long string of defeats.
Hoover, seemingly a one-woman show operating under the guise of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, has issued a press release stating that she is "pleased" about unanimous Senate passage of Am. Sub. HB 329, which provides for the creation of thirteen themed license plates in Ohio, including one that will promote firearms safety in Ohio by funding the NRA Foundation State Fund Account for Ohio. The fund will be used for Foundation-related projects such as youth hunter education, firearms safety training and shooting range development.
2004 has to have been a tough year for Ohio's gun ban extremists, so the frantic spin contained in Hoover's latest press release should probably be considered after taking a look at the gun ban lobby's dismal failures this year:
2004 has been a GREAT year for Ohioans, because it has been a BAD year for gun ban extremists like Toby Hoover:
Which brings us to December, and passage in the House and Senate of legislation creating an NRA vanity plate (along with 12 themes befitting other charities). Apparently the agony of defeat has become too much for Ms. Hoover, who has decided to try claiming victory even while gripped in the jaws of defeat.
(OFCC commentary provided in blue):
- Wednesday December 1, 5:00 pm ET
TOLEDO, Ohio, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence (OCAGV) is surprised and pleased that the Ohio legislators and the National Rifle Association, NRA, are encouraging gun owners to publicly identify themselves.
The Ohio Senate today passed a bill, Amended Substitute Bill HB 329, with a vote of 28-0, creating a National Rifle Association license plate. The license plate will be issued on completion of registration with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
In all the considerations of bills concerning firearms in the state of Ohio, secrecy has been one of the most important issues to the gun lobby. Earlier this year, the Ohio legislators passed a bill allowing the secret and hidden carrying of concealed weapons.
As licensees victimized by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, Lorain Morning Journal, NBC24Toledo, Sidney Daily News, Toledo City Paper, Troy Daily News and Warren Tribune Chronicle unfortunately know all too well, there is NOTHING "secret" about Ohio's concealed carry law as currently written.
- The Ohio Coalition Against Violence Executive Director, Toby Hoover, reacted with surprise to the passage of the bill that authorizes National Rifle Association license plates in Ohio.
"Now we will see many Ohio gun owners voluntarily register themselves with the state of Ohio," Hoover said in response to passage of the bill. "I am a bit astonished, given the strong opposition of the NRA to registering gun owners. But soon we'll know who has the guns by the license plates on their cars."
The fact that Ohioans can voluntarily purchase these plates to support their favorite charity is MUCH different than the Ohio Concealed Handgun License. Reporters can't abuse a loophole in Ohio law by requesting the date of birth, county of residence, or name of persons who purchase these plates, in order to publish their names as an intimidation ploy.
Thousands upon thousands of Ohioans already proudly promote their support for the Second Amendment and the NRA (and for OFCC!) with bumper stickers placed on their personal vehicles. Such proud displays offer Americans the opportunity to see that there are many more of us than Hoover would like the world to believe. As does the concealed carry licensure law, these license plates offer elected officials many of them is there really are.
- "An NRA license plate will, ironically, be helpful to our police," Hoover added. "When they see the NRA symbol, they'll know that the driver may be packing heat in his car and take appropriate precautions."
The registration of these plates by gun owners will now serve the safety of Ohioans by providing identification to law enforcement, other drivers, employers, and neighbors.
Ms. Hoover is well aware that this bill offers no new assistance to law enforcement officers, who are able to obtain information regarding a drivers' status as a CHL-holder by scanning their license plate. Hoover also should admit by now (as Ohio's law enforcement organizations do) that these law-abiding citizens are not the ones of whom to fear at traffic stops.
- "Unfortunately the revenue from these plates will further finance the powerful NRA instead of contributing to violence prevention. Funding conflict resolution or giving funds to survivors of gun violence -- as well as trauma centers that routinely deal with gun shot injuries -- would have been more appropriate," said Toby Hoover, Executive Director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence.
Funds from these plates will not "finance the powerful NRA", as Hoover inaccurately claims. Instead, these funds will be used to promote firearms safety in Ohio by funding the NRA Foundation State Fund Account for Ohio. The fund will be used for Foundation-related projects such as youth hunter education, firearms safety training and shooting range development.
The NRA has done better than any other organization for the past 100+ years at promoting fireams safety. If the people who buy these plates are gun owners, why wouldn't the funds go back to support those who made the plates possible? That's exactly how every other vanity plate works. If Hoover wants a plate to fund to support her causes, she should lobby for an OCAGV plate. Judging by support for her efforts in the past, however, we suspect demand would be rather low...
- The Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence is a statewide non-profit organization with a mission to reduce and prevent gun violence by fostering a culture of non-violence in our communities.
Ohioans For Concealed Carry is a statewide non-profit organization with a mission to reduce and prevent gun violence by fostering a culture of non-violence in our communities too.
We support efforts to use existing laws to disarm criminals. And because no such efforts can work 100% of the time, we support giving the law-abiding citizenry in Ohio every opportunity to protect themselves if attacked.
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