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Written by Mike Kinsey
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Wednesday, 19 December 2007 |
Long-time OFCC member Rick Troha had an excellent letter to the editor published in The Cleveland Plain Dealer yesterday.
Mr. Troha, along with all law-abiding firearm owners, detests when the mainstream media compares innocents to criminals. This is true regarding gun owners, or victims of violence.
Gunshot 'victims' fall into two distinct categories
While my Webster's New World Dictionary agrees with The Plain Dealer that culpability does not exclude one from being labeled a "victim," I still feel there is something inherently wrong in lumping together innocent gunshot victims, who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, with criminals who were shot while committing a crime ("Where do the guns come from?" Sunday). I think it minimizes and detracts from the idea that one should be responsible for the consequences of one's actions.
Rick Troha
North Olmsted
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Written by Daniel White
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Thursday, 13 December 2007 |
On Saturday, September 29th, Ohioans For Concealed Carry held our fourth annual Party in the Park at Liberty Park in Powell, Ohio.
Over 200 people gathered on a beautiful early fall day to enjoy the company of pro-gun activists from across the state.
After feasting on burgers, hotdogs, and BBQ chicken, attendees were paid a visit by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland who worked the crowd before taking the podium to deliver the keynote address. The Governor spoke about the bright future of Ohio, as well as the importance of the citizens' right to Keep and Bear arms.
Also on the speaking docket were Professor Bryan Patrick from the University of Toledo, who spoke about the effectiveness of grassroots activism, Ohio Representative Michael DeBose, who recounted his conversion from anti-CCW to pro-CCW after being mugged, and Attorney Dan Ellis wrapped up with an overview of several legal issues OFCC is involved with.
Overall, this was our most successful, well attended picnic to date and we thank everyone who was able to attend!
Click the links below to listed to mp3 recordings of the guest speakers.
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Written by Mike Kinsey
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Wednesday, 12 December 2007 |
Ohioans For Concealed Carry has received confirmation that many across the state have answered our call and contacted their elected representatives for removal of ineffectual and dangerous "No Guns Zones".
During my contact, I requested a written reply of how someone would work to remove "No Guns Zones" from Ohio communities. I made sure to mention that I would share their intentions with our members and supporters. I received an almost immediate reply from Ohio Speaker of the House Jon Husted. His thoughts are given below.
December 11, 2007
Mike Kinsey
Coordinator, Ohioans for Concealed Carry
[Personal Contact Info Removed]
Dear Mr. Kinsey:
I received your e-mail on behalf of Ohioans for Concealed Carry
regarding "Gun Free Zones". I appreciate your continued interest in this
issue.
Please know that as a law-abiding gun owner myself, I am greatly
concerned with any issue facing gun owners' rights in Ohio.
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Written by Todd Coughlin
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Wednesday, 12 December 2007 |
For many years Pro-Gun groups have butted heads with the media on many
different fronts (literary works, television broadcast, etc.). Many times
the animosity comes from publishing Licensee names, distrust of "people who
own firearms", and by publishing outright lies.
Folks in the Northern Ohio area have been exposed to some real gems over the years. (Think back or use a web search engine for "Doug Clifton"). While remnants
of Mr. Clifton remain, it seems as if the Cleveland Plain Dealer may
be turning a corner.
By now you have read about newly crowned hero Jeanne Assam, the heroic woman that stopped a crazed killer that attacker her church in Colorado Springs, CO. What you might
not know is that some folks (continue) to see the light, while other folks
who publish news items may be seeing that same light a little clearer.
Recently, the Plain Dealer has published (somewhat) pro-gun
articles, but the newspaper showed up today with a very strong Pro-Gun-Rights message:
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Written by Mike Kinsey
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Tuesday, 11 December 2007 |
It is being reported that the Colorado Church Shooting that occurred this week was prevented from being a large-scale massacre by an average woman with a Concealed Handgun License that volunteered to be armed during services. While several media sources are mentioning the hero’s size and gender, not very many are including the important fact that she was armed with only her license and personal handgun.
However, if you look hard enough, you can find some honest reporters that found that fact interesting.
Colorado Shooting Highlights Churches' New Emphasis on Security
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — When a black-clad gunman walked into New Life Church on Sunday and started shooting, he was met with the church's first line of defense: a congregant with a concealed weapons permit and a law enforcement background.
The woman, an armed volunteer, shot and killed the gunman. New Life's pastor credited her with saving 100 lives.
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Written by Daniel White
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Saturday, 08 December 2007 |
The Knox Report
From the Firearms Coalition
By Jeff Knox
(December 5, 2007) As the Primary season begins, now is the time for GunVoters to step up and make sure that they have a choice worth choosing come next November. If GunVoters don’t stand up now, in the early Primaries, there will only be a choice between an anti-gun Democrat and an anti-gun Republican for President.
Here is an outline of the key candidates’ positions.
Democrats:
If you are voting in a Democratic Primary, there is only one candidate with a pro-gun record; New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Gov. Richardson had a good record as a Representative and as Governor. All of the others have expressed strong anti-gun views.
Republicans:
If you are voting in a Republican Primary, things are a bit more complicated; here’s how they stack up. |
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Written by Daniel White
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Saturday, 08 December 2007 |
The Knox Report
From the Firearms Coalition
By Jeff Knox
The Supreme Court will review the D.C. gun ban case. The case, originally known as Parker v. D.C. is now known as D.C. v. Heller. The name change is a source of confusion, which we’ll explain momentarily. Another matter of confusion is who’s behind the case. It is often reported that this case is a project of the libertarian Cato Institute; that’s not true. While several key players in the case are closely associated with Cato, the organization itself did not fund or sponsor the action. It is true however that NRA was not happy about this case going forward but has filed a supporting amicus brief and recently began using it as a fundraising issue.
The story so far: Last March the Federal Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in Parker v. D.C. that the District’s rigid gun control laws violated D.C. citizens’ rights under the Second Amendment. The court declared that the Second Amendment refers to an individual right, but left plenty of wriggle room by suggesting that “reasonable restrictions” do not constitute “infringement.”
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Written by Michael J. Makuch
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Tuesday, 04 December 2007 |
On Sunday October 28th I attended an NRA Approved Basic Handgun
Course/Concealed Carry Course. My boss suggested it would be a good story. Why? Because I'd never fired a handgun before, silly! What better way to
demonstrate such a course than by a newbie? The fact of the matter is that
most of the people taking the course are already familiar with handguns and
shooting in general and are taking the course in order to be able to carry a
concealed handgun. So, what would it be like to take a course to learn
something completely new? I was intrigued.
A little background might be in order. Other than shooting BB guns,
literally decades ago, I have never fired a live and real handgun before.
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with guns, it's just that I've never
had an interest in owning any before. I say 'before' because I'm a little
interested now. More on this later. It's easy to settle into a nice state of
complacency, but the result is a lack of interest in trying something new
sometimes. Basically you can get into a rut and so, I welcomed the
opportunity to try something new and alien. And so begins the journey of a
man who takes a conceal carry course just for the sheer adventure of it...
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Written by Mike Kinsey
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Saturday, 24 November 2007 |
Anyone that has volunteered at an OFCC gun show booth in Dayton can attest to the fact that I like to talk... a lot. I enjoy debating. I enjoy researching my arguments. I enjoy trying to persuade others. This is especially true when I am passionate about a topic. Baseball statistics, fast motorcycles, and our Second Amendment rights are conversations that you do not want to initiate with me unless you have an evening to kill. If you gave me a megaphone, I would wear out the batteries in one afternoon. Luckily, there is something much more effective than a megaphone and a corner soapbox available to each and every one of us: our local newspapers.
Letters to the editor are an effective means of furthering concealed carry issues. They allow us to inform the general public of concerns that they may not think about very often and provide a means for correcting false information that runs rampant in the media when firearms are discussed. This could be particularly relevant for the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court battle over the meaning of the Second Amendment. One lone voice can educate a large audience on the history and necessity of our right to keep and bear arms.
I have had good luck and almost everything I submit to newspapers around the state gets published somewhere. I humbly submit some suggestions for your consideration when writing your own letters:
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