Section 9 update: City of Columbus recognizes duty to comply

Of all the choices the Associated Press has for a story on today (Sheriffs refusing to follow the law, getting sued, etc.), they have elected to (finally) cover the issue that cities are illegally banning firearms, in violation of Section 9. And of course, their coverage is sympathetic only to the gun-grabbers.

The Associated Press
4/8/2004, 2:16 p.m. ET

Cities worry that new gun law could eliminate weapons bans in parks

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Mayors are worried that the state's concealed weapons law, which took effect Thursday, will override local bans on guns in parks and other outdoor public places.

The law prohibits people from bringing concealed weapons into public buildings but doesn't restrict them from carrying them into public areas such as parks, pools and bike paths, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman said Thursday.

Until Thursday, Columbus and other cities across Ohio could ban weapons from parks, Coleman said.

The new law is "a travesty for our city and for our state," he said.

Directors of city, county and state parks across Ohio are concerned about the change, said Michelle Parks, executive director of the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association. She said officials are particularly worried about having weapons around youth sports events where tempers often flare.

Parks lobbied unsuccessfully to include public areas such as pools and bike paths in the prohibited areas under the new state law. She and Coleman said they will try again to persuade legislators to change the law.

Commentary:
This biased story cloud has a silver-lining: The City of Columbus obviously recognizes that Section 9 preempts their ability to enforce concealed carry bans.

The Cities of Elyria and Dover recently passed bans directly in the face of this law, and it is believed they were aware of Section 9 when they did so.

To review the advisory OFCC's legal counsel is sending to violators, click here.

For a complete list of Section 9 violators, click here and look under "Taxpayer-funded entities".

Further coverage:
Columbus ThisWeek: City seeks limitations on concealed-carry