Portage couple among region's first to secure concealed-carry permits

April 28, 2004
Cleveland Plain Dealer

At 72, stroke victim Ben Doepel, a well-known outdoorsman, figures he needs the protection of a gun.

He and his wife once were frightened by three suspicious men in a parking lot as she helped him climb out of his wheelchair. "I never felt so helpless in my life," said Doepel, former president of the Goodyear Hunting and Fishing Club. "I sure don't want to hurt no one, and neither does she. But we want to feel safe."

Ben and Rose Doepel, of Suffield Township, are among the first of more than 150 Northeast Ohioans issued permits to carry concealed handguns under an Ohio law that took effect April 8.

The Doepels received two of 25 permits issued in Portage County since Friday. In all, sheriff's departments in Northeast Ohio have handled more than 1,000 applications.

The Geauga County sheriff's department has issued the most permits so far - 98 since Friday, with nearly 300 applications.

Chief Deputy Scott Hildenbrand said most of the applicants have easily passed background checks.

The Medina County sheriff's department is processing about 315 applications, has given nine permits and has that many waiting to be picked up.

Commentary:
Section 2923.129 of House Bill 12 states that "the records
that a sheriff keeps relative to the issuance, renewal, suspension, or revocation of a license to carry a concealed
handgun or the issuance, suspension, or revocation of a temporary emergency license to carry a concealed handgun...are confidential and are not public records. Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, no person shall release or otherwise disseminate records that are
confidential under this division unless required to do so pursuant
to a court order."

Unless proper procedures under Section (B) (2) (public records for journalists) are being followed, whomever is tipping off journalists as to when licenses will be issued at Sheriff's offices may be committing a felony.

Section 2923.129 (E): "Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty
of illegal release of confidential concealed handgun license records, a felony of the fifth degree. In addition to any penalties imposed under Chapter 2929. of the Revised Code for a violation of division (B) of this section or a violation of section 2913.04 of the Revised Code described in division (D) of this section, if the offender is a sheriff, an employee of a sheriff, or any other public officer or employee, and if the violation was willful and deliberate, the offender shall be subject to a civil fine of one thousand dollars. Any person who is
harmed by a violation of division (B) or (C) of this section or a violation of section 2913.04 of the Revised Code described in
division (D) of this section has a private cause of action against the offender for any injury, death, or loss to person or property
that is a proximate result of the violation and may recover court costs and attorney's fees related to the action."

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