WKYC Investigator Tom Meyer falls short of the truth in report on felons obtaining hunting licenses

by Larry S. Moore

WKYC (NBC Cleveland) Investigator Tom Meyer screamed the headlines "Hundreds of convicted felons in Ohio -- many of them violent -- are getting state licenses to hunt, even though it's illegal for them to have guns...". This is the latest alarmist reporting aimed at gun owners and hunters. It's the kind of reporting that we've come to expect - long on hype and short on real information*.

The figure Meyer produced is that nearly 1,200 felons are getting hunting licenses. Let's take a quick look at the numbers. While 1,200 is a large number, it pales when compared to the number of deer hunters as reported by ODNR Division of Wildlife in a 11/16/12 press release. They projected there are 420,000 deer hunters. So, doing the math, that means felons comprise about 0.29% of the deer hunters. Not quite so alarming now. Almost certainly a much lower number than the ratio of felons to the total population.

The report goes on to ask convicted auto thief Ron Rodriguez, who is not allowed to own a firearm, to see if he could buy a hunting license. He was successful at purchasing his license. Next the report comes up with the biggest lie in the story, "Because I'm not allowed to own a gun, because I am a convicted felon, they're giving me a license to use a gun. I don't think that's right," he said. (emphasis added).

Let's get something straight - the purchase of a hunting license DOES NOT give anyone a license to use a gun. I have confirmed this with the ODNR Division of Wildlife law section. Apparently the WKYC "investigative reporter" never thought about contacting the ODNR for information.

There are any number of reasons, having nothing to do with firearms, that a felon might purchasing a hunting license. These include:

• A hunting license is required to trap in Ohio.
• A hunting license is required to hunt deer. Many deer hunters only hunt with archery equipment (that would be bow and arrows for any reporter who doesn't understand hunting).

Now comes Rep. Bill Patmon of Cleveland. No surprise here as Rep. Patmon seems to be addicted to getting his name in the press, especially with any legislation targeting firearms or their use. According to the investigative report (I am taking the risk of assuming they got this one right), Rep. Patmon is proposing legislation that would require a hunting license applicant to specify if he or she has been convicted of a felony or pleaded guilty to one. If so, the hunting license they print will include that it is "firearms restricted." This is but another piece of liberal legislation that sounds good in the liberal media and plays well to the unknowing folks back home in Cleveland. Let's do some analysis:

• The felon under firearms disability knows they are not allowed to own a firearm. Do they need a piece of paper to remind them of that?
• Even with a license in their pocket that says firearms restricted, will that stop them from breaking the law and hunting with a gun? If you really believe that is the case, just stop reading now because I'm not able to reason with you.
• The odds of a hunter getting stopped and checked by an Ohio Wildlife Officer are pretty slim. There are only 88 Ohio Wildlife Officers and 420,000 deer hunters. Even with supervisors and other staff working during the deer gun season, not that many of the hunters will encounter an officer. So the odds are the felon who chooses to hunt with a gun will not get caught.
• But what if he does get caught? Will the hunting license that says firearms restricted help? Maybe. It depends on the circumstances and whether the Wildlife Officer has any probable cause to verify the hunter through a system check. If they do, the person will show up as a felon.

Here's the real kicker in the process. The felon, who isn't allowed to own a firearm, but is hunting with one, had to get the gun someplace. Illegally! Someone knows that the felon is out there with a gun. Someone is aiding the felon in breaking the law. Is it really worth the risk of a felony to kill a deer with a gun? Some must think so, since poachers take that risk also. All the "someone who knows" has to do is call the TIP poacher hotline to anonymously report the illegal activity. They can help the ODNR bust the illegal hunter. Someone has to step up to stop felons under firearms disability from obtaining guns.

Finally, there is no mention of who will pay to alter the Division of Wildlife customer service system that supports the issuance of hunting licenses and the game check process. I'm guessing that Rep. Patmon will not be including funds from the General Assembly, or the general revenue fund, for the cost of the computer system modifications. Who is going to pay for the system modifications? The same people who always pay the bills - the already law-abiding citizen. In this case, since the Division of Wildlife is nearly 100% supported by hunters/trappers/fishermen, it is the law abiding sportsman who will pay the bill.

How will this work? Is the felon going to be asked the question "Are you under firearms disability?" in the process? Perhaps Rep. Patmon thinks the felon will answer truthfully. Really? Rep. Patmon apparently thinks that the felon who will illegally get a gun to hunt will suddenly be honest when completing a form to make an online purchase. That's a mind boggling concept to me.

This is a liberal bill and concept in search of a crisis. I suggest Rep. Patmon step back, take a deep breath of common sense, and look elsewhere for his publicity. This is not about felons with a hunting license but about felons with guns.

*Note: When reading the actual news report, just ignore the fact that WKYC's Meyer misspelled "Massacusetts"...make that Massachusetts please.

Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a long-time volunteer leader for Buckeye Firearms Foundation and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award, the 2007 League of Ohio Sportsmen/Ohio Wildlife Federation Hunter Educator of the Year and the 2010 National Wild Turkey Federation/ Women in the Outdoors Hunter Education Instructor of the Year.