Pro-Gun Punditry: Wednesday's Buckeye State Roundabout

By Chris Chumita

There are more stories pertaining to our gun rights in Ohio then we can possibly draw attention to with individual daily commentary. But they are all worthy of mention.

What follows is our review of headlines from around the state though a pro-gun rights lens.

From another spree killing in a "no-guns" victim zone to Mayor Jackson claming downtown Cleveland is "safe", these articles should be a part of your required reading!

What follows is several days of headlines accompanied by short, concise pro-gun analysis.

3/14/09: Burlington, Vermont: Bolted Antlers On Dead Deer Bring Jail Time

From the article:

A Vermont man who bolted antlers to the head of a dead deer and posed for a photograph with it has been fined $400 and jailed for game violations.

It is hunters like this that give all hunters a bad name.

3/9/09: Maryville, Illinois: Pastor Is Killed In Illinois Church Shooting

A gunman walked down the aisle of a church during a Sunday service and killed the pastor, then stabbed himself and slashed two other people as parishioners wrestled him to the ground, authorities said.

This is exactly why we should be legally allowed to carry in places of worship. If someone had a gun, the man may have been able to stopped before he killed the pastor or injured the other parishioners.

3/6/09: Port Clinton, Ohio: Robbery Charges Filed After Attack On Third St.

From the article:

According to the Port Clinton police, officers received a call shortly before 9 p.m. about a fight in the 200 block of Third Street. When officers arrived, a woman told them the men who assaulted and robbed an older man were inside her apartment. The report does not state how the two got there or what the relationship was with the woman.

Officers found the pair in the apartment and took them into custody for questioning, the report states.

The woman told police that Palacio and Velasquez confronted the victim as he walked down the street, the report states, and that after Velasquez punched him, the victim fell and both men started to kick him.

Another witness told police the pair had been "stomping the guy" for about four minutes, according to the report, and that Palacio did most of the assaulting.

A firearm is a great equalizer. If the elderly victim was armed, he may have been able to defend himself and may not have been injured.

3/5/09: Cleveland, Ohio: Six Shot, Five Dead On West 89th Street

From the article:

According to Cuyahoga County's online court records, he was sent to prison in 2002 after a domestic violence incident that involved a gun and children.

Crawford faced multiple charges and pleaded guilty to felonious assault, endangering children and other charges.

A judge sent him to Lorain Correctional Institution for at least five years.

When he was 19, he shot and killed 22-year-old Joseph Smith in March 1995 in a dispute over a girlfriend. He pleaded guilty later that year to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to five to 25 years in prison.

This tragic incident is further proof of how our justice system is a failure. Twice it released this violent offender to prey upon the innocent. Now, five people are dead.

3/4/09: Roselawn, Ohio: Resident Hurt, Gunman Killed In Bond Hill Home Invasion

From the article:

Detectives are investigating a home invasion that ended with a resident wounded and one would-be robber killed.

Thanks to a firearm, another victim was able to defend himself against violent home invaders.

3/4/09: Chicago, Illinois: Police: Gun Store Clerk Shoots Robber

From the article:

Witnesses told investigators that the injured man went behind the counter and argued with the clerk.

The confrontation turned physical and the clerk pulled a handgun and shot the other man, witnesses said. During the struggle, the clerk also shot himself in the hand accidentally.

It looks like the thug learned an important lesson: don't attack an person who has the necessary equipment to defend himself.

3/2/09: Columbiana County, Ohio: Caught On Camera - Ohio Clerk Fights Off Would-Be Robber

From the article:

That's when the clerk grabbed onto the suspect's clothing, pulled him toward the counter, and didn't let go when the suspect pulled away.

The clerk refused to be a victim and fought back. Crime could be drastically decreased if more people fought back like this clerk did.

2/25/09: Cleveland, Ohio: Mayor Frank Jackson: 'Downtown Is A Safe Place'

From the article:

Jackson noted that other killings and high-profile crimes occur across the city, not just downtown. Every killing bothers him, Jackson said. He issued two statements Tuesday about the shooting and offered his condolences to the victims families.

If they wanted to actually prevent crime, the city wouldn't waste so much time targeting law-abiding gun owners.