Section 9 Op-Ed: Concealed guns could be trouble in city parks
The following editorial is being published in several Gannett News Service papers:
April 21, 2004
Among the uncertainties surrounding the state's new concealed carry law is whether cities and other political subdivisions can prohibit weapons in public parks.
City officials across the state say they would like to prohibit firearms in public areas for as far as the law will allow.
"It's just common sense when you're dealing with children that you don't want to play around with firearms in our public places," said Fremont Mayor Terry Overmyer.
But it's not that easy and Fremont Law Director Robert Hart advised the city against taking any formal action banning guns from parks. He believes the law does not provide for that action. So does Ottawa County Sheriff Craig Emahiser, who said, "There's no provision in the law preventing them from (carrying a concealed weapon)."
Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.
Ohioans for Concealed Carry, a gun advocacy group, agrees. While the law states that guns are prohibited in public buildings owned or leased by government entities, it does not specify public parks or fairgrounds as gun-free zones, and the advocacy group sent letters to several cities advising them they cannot ban concealed handguns from public open lands.
This issue apparently is going to be fought and eventually decided in the courts.
Until it is resolved, we hope common sense prevails.
In the vast majority of cases, there seems to be little reason to carry a weapon into a city's parks.
The presence of a weapon near children or around competitive activities where emotions could run high seems to simply be an invitation to tragedy.
Just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean you should.
Commentary:
While recognizing that Section 9 preempts city efforts to ban in parks, the unnamed editorialist goes on to suggest that for common sense to prevail, CHL-holders should not go to parks. Apparently the editorialist is unfamiliar with just how many crimes occur against defenseless citizens in Ohio's parks. Otherwise, they'd realize that "common sense" would say there is no better place for a concealed firearm than at the side of a woman jogging alone on a dark trail, or on the belt of an elderly man out for an early morning stroll.
In recent days, the Cities of Newcomerstown and Fremont joined the list of public entities that recognize the rule of law as dictated by Section 9 of House Bill 12. The City of Fostoria, on the other hand, voted this week to follow the City of Toledo down the road to law-breaking.
Related Stories:
Letter to the Editor: Legal license-holders not danger in parks
Section 9 update: OFCC successful in deterring several city ordinances
SIMPLE: Letter-writer understands; some Mayors stumped
City of Fremont: Not us. Let Toledo get sued over Section 9!
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