Student Activist Group Celebrates First Birthday with Fundraising Dinner

Buckeyes for Concealed Carry on Campus kicks off the lawsuit challenging Ohio State's violation of Ohio Revised Code 9.68 fundraising efforts with an Italian family-style dinner featuring Nikki Goeser, the NRA's 2012 Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award Winner.

"Ms. Goeser is a hero to me and many of our members. We are proud that she has agreed to speak at our first annual birthday dinner," said Joe Smith, President of Buckeyes for Concealed Carry on Campus.

The group says on its website that "Nikki's story is a perfect example of how laws and policies make victims out of law-abiding citizens."

Goeser, who has been featured in USA Today and has made appearances on shows such as Stossel's Take on Fox News, watched as her husband Ben was brutally murdered while her defensive handgun was locked safely away in her car as required by Tennessee Law. Since Ben fell victim to Nikki's stalker, she has worked tirelessly to change laws in Tennessee. Her proponent testimony also helped change gun control laws in Ohio.

"Her testimony before the Ohio Legislature helped lawmakers understand how victims were created by gun free zones," said Linda Walker, Buckeye Firearms Association Central Ohio Chair. "You just can't listen to her tell that story without tearing up. She puts a face to the victimization created by gun control."

Walker is also a member of the NRA's Board of Directors and 2009 recipient of the NRA's Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award.

Mike Newbern, Ohio Students for Concealed Carry State Director, says that Goeser's appearance will mark the official kickoff of fundraising efforts.

"Lawsuits cost lots of money. Our challenge to OSU's policies as violations of law won't come cheap. This dinner will help us jump-start our fundraising efforts," said Newbern. "When we considered who we wanted to help us celebrate our first year at OSU and challenge the establishment empowering criminals, Nikki was an easy choice."

"When Mike first reached out to me about the dinner, I was honored to accept," said Goeser. "University policies and laws in several states make victims out of some of our brightest minds. They create a safe haven for criminals to carry out their dirty work.

"That's just plain wrong."

Buckeyes for Concealed Carry on Campus will host the dinner at Giammarco's in Westerville on November 10. In addition to the dinner, the group has collected several items that will be raffled off. Details on the event and ticket purchasing information are available on their website, www.BuckeyesforConcealedCarry.com.

Students for Concealed Carry is a nationwide, non-partisan student organization. The group's sole mission is to restore the right of law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms on all public university campuses. The group works to accomplish this mission by educating the public, university officials, and lawmakers of the facts about campus carry and lobbying to remove the restrictions on campus carry from the laws of the state. Buckeyes for Concealed Carry is Ohio Students for Concealed Carry's Ohio State University chapter.