Toledo Blade editorial continues string of anti-gun writing, misrepresents Ohio restaurant carry legislation

By Gerard Valentino

A recent Toledo Blade editorial about pro-gun reform in Ohio reads like something out of the anti-gun playbook from 1999.

The anti-gun hit piece titled "Get a Handle on Guns" uses a series of misleading statements and outright lies to push a misinformed agenda.

By making the claim that guns and alcohol don't mix, the author tries to imply that legislators are advocating letting people carry guns while drunk.

Nothing can be further from the truth, and in a clear attempt at misdirection the editorial fails to mention that the proposal to allow concealed carry in establishments that serve alcohol won't make it legal to carry a gun while drinking. If the current law passes, it will still be illegal to possess a gun while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. By omitting such an important detail the Blade editorial board failed, yet again, to properly inform their readers of the effects of legislation they oppose.

Such a poorly veiled attempt to sway public opinion through a lie of omission shows that anti-gun zealots are prone to try just about anything to damage the right to bear arms and the right to self-defense.

Using the term "guns in bars" was designed to make it seem like every drunk at the local bar will have a gun stuffed in his waistband. In truth, the legislation will still only allow possession of a gun, or legal concealed carry if someone is not under the influence of alcohol. But, the Blade isn't interested in the truth since it doesn't support its long-held bias against guns.

From the story:

With any luck, an Ohio measure pushed by concealed carry activists will languish in committee and never see the light of day. As we've said before, guns-in-bars legislation is a bad idea because firearms don't belong in any place that serves alcohol.

There is a disturbing trend toward relaxed gun laws and expanded gun rights in more states. Behind the push for more guns and less regulation is manufactured alarm about what the Obama Administration allegedly intends to do to restrict the right to bear arms and ammunition.

The recent shoot-out caught on tape at a Toledo bar was proof that criminals don't follow the law since at the time it was illegal for anyone to carry a gun in an establishment that sold alcohol for consumption. It also supported the pro-gun viewpoint that when laws are enacted that create "gun-free zones" it does nothing to stop criminals who by definition won't follow the law.

If there is any doubt about the Blade's true intentions, its choice to connect the tragedy at Virginia Tech to the issue at hand, exposed their lack of integrity. They connected the two issues despite the fact that they have nothing in common. The fact remains that a shooting by a college student on campus has no bearing on the question of letting people carry guns in establishments that serve alcohol.

Also from the story:

In Virginia, less than three years after the shootings at Virginia Tech claimed 33 lives and prompted a national drive for increased gun control, the General Assembly approved a bill that allows concealed weapons to be carried in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.

Clearly, using the image of the Virginia Tech shootings is an attempt to prejudice people against guns, and against pro-gun reform. It is also designed to imply that if the current legislation passes it will lead to a similar tragedy in Ohio.

The Toledo Blade's willingness to throw away any semblance of journalistic integrity shows the decision was made to oppose the legislation in question, and then only the facts that support their stance were considered appropriate for public consumption.

By discarding basic journalistic standards, The Blade was able to give the impression that the pro-gun legislation in question will create a grave threat to public safety.

The truth and logic, however, once again caused the case against pro-gun reform to fall apart.

Gerard Valentino is a member of the Buckeye Firearms Foundation Board of Directors and his first book, The Valentino Chronicles – Observations of a Middle Class Conservative, is available through the Buckeye Firearms Association store.