Ohioans For Concealed Carry Executive Director Dan White and Vice-President Bryan Torok report that the Ohio Second Amendment March was a huge success.  A substantial number of people between 250 and 500 gathered on Capitol Square at the Ohio Statehouse, many of them openly carrying handguns and long guns.  The speakers were well received by the crowd and the significant law enforcement presence was clearly evident from the Columbus PD, the Ohio Highway Patrol, and the Columbus PD Mounted Unit on horseback.

We could have told them there was no need for crowd control - this was a group of law abiding gun owners, not code pink or some other antagonistic gathering.  We came to hear the Ohio Attorney General, Nikki Goeser, Skip Coryell from SAM, and other invited guests speak while showing our elected officials we are here and we vote.

As the day progresses and members of the organization make the ride back to their respective corners of the state this story and our discussion forums should have quite a few photos and video to follow.  Thank you all for attending and be sure to visit go book a bus seat for teh National March on Washington D.C. -- we still have seats on both buses!

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has banked with National City Bank for a number of years.  We have numerous business checking, savings, and merchant accounts with the establishment based on an executive management guarantee that National City Bank would simply never prohibit possession of a firearm in their branches by customers.  Since that time this organization has recommended thousands of Ohio Gun owners do their personal or business banking with National City Bank.  Regardless of if you're an NCB/PNC customer right now or a customer of another bank, please read this entire story - there is an action item for everyone below to help us fix this.

As the PNC takeover of National City Bank loomed we knew there was a serious potential for the PNC "No Guns" corporate mentality to be applied to National City Bank.  Today branches across the State of Ohio are closed and newly rebranded PNC employees standing in the parking lot are advising customers of the weekend conversion from NCB to PNC.   The NCB vinyl banners have come down to reveal the PNC signs and logos -- along with the tell tale NO GUNS ALLOWED signs on the doors.   Discuss this in the OhioCCWForums.org!

The photo included in this story was taken at the Maple Heights PNC Branch around 12:30pm Saturday.  I provided the two men in the parking lot with an OFCC "NO GUNS = NO MONEY" card along with a receipt from the ATM indicating a substantial balance and advised them that they would be losing the business of Ohio's gun owners if PNC doesn't reverse the policy.  They immediately implied that federal law required the prohibition - which isn't true at all.

Earlier last week OFCC sent a letter to Mr. Michael Burkhart - PNC Assistant Vice President, Executive Client Relations - with a title like that one has to think this man has influence at PNC Bank.  The letter indicated the history Ohio Gun owners have had with National City Bank and advised PNC that Ohioans For Concealed Carry would much rather work with PNC to setup a discount (for members) much like large banks do for large employers in the State of Ohio.

On Wednesday, April 14, at 10:30 a.m. in the South Hearing Room, the Senate Judiciary - Criminal Justice Committee will again be hearing testimony on Senate Bill 239, which would make numerous pro-gun improvements to Ohio’s gun laws.

SB239, sponsored by State Senators Shannon Jones (R-7) and Tim Shaffer (R-31), would eliminate the current confusing standards of carrying a firearm in a motor vehicle.  In addition, the proposal would also allow permit holders to carry a firearm for self-defense in a restaurant that serves alcohol, provided they are not consuming, thus eliminating another “victim zone” in Ohio.

As reported earlier, Ohio has overly burdensome stipulations regarding how a concealed firearm must be carried in a motor vehicle.  Current law specifies that a firearm must be either be:

There is a situation that isn’t exactly new in county commission and city council meetings throughout Ohio.   Officials stating, “We don’t have enough money”.  But what is new is that many community’s safety force numbers are being cut by more than half in some instances. 

Budget cuts again being the reason, in Columbiana County, the town of Salem has reduced their police force from a normal staff of 24 down to 17 due to layoff that went into effect on March 3rd, 2010. With one of those officers directly attached to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) that brings the total down to 16 officers “in house”.  Chief Bob Floor said he hasn't seen department strength "that low since the 1960s or 1970s.”

In Mahoning County, lay off notices were sent to 101 employees of the Sheriff’s Department at the end of March 2010. This included four Sergeants, ninety Deputies and seven civilian employees.  With budget cuts of more than 8 million dollars, “Something has to give.” said Sheriff Randall Wellington. He has to release approximately 150 prisoners due to a reduction in staff that work in the County Jail.