Most advocates of Concealed Carry feel that their personal identity doesn't belong in the news paper just because they've obtained a license to carry a firearm.  In Monday's Canton Repository columnist Michael E. Hanke explores flip-flop voting on HB9 that allows representatives on both sides of the aisle to claim they voted for open-records, while simultaneously claiming they voted to make license holder identity protected.

The open-records exclusion for CHL holders in HB347 was removed when it was evident that Bob Taft would veto the concealed carry reform bill, only to see it amended (in better language) into a more appropriate open-records reform bill known as HB9.

Sadly, Repository columnist Hanke comes to the misguided conclusion that burglars wouldn't go to the Sheriff asking for the list of CHL holders.  Had Hanke really understood the law he'd realize that only "journalists" can obtain that list, and the criminals seeking homes to steal guns from need only pick up a newspaper or visit certain websites where newspapers continually publish and update the identities of license holders by county.

Using that list and the county property records available online an individual who could figure out Google could identify a shopping list of homes to rummage after the occupants went to work.

It's no surprise that those opposed to concealed carry would attempt to play down the dangers of advertising the very homes where guns would be during the day -- implying that those of us who would suggest such a plot are paranoid of the impossible.

In today's highly politicized society gun owners and most police officers just want to keep guns out of the hands of those intent on causing individuals harm. 

In the minds of gun hating extremists its more important to making lawfully purchasing, owning, and carrying a firearm for self-defense a burden for the law abiding person instead of focusing on the obvious problem.

Back in the Statehouse Representative Scott Oelslager is reportedly working to get the open-records amendment removed from HB9 in the Ohio Senate. Such a move would put the entire House of Representatives in a position to either approve of HB9 without the amendment, or force the bill to a conference committee.

We're dismayed by this and urge supporters of this cause to contact their Senators and urge them to leave the CHL amendment to HB9 intact, protecting the identities of gun owners who have done absolutely nothing to warrant parading their names in the newspaper like registered sex offenders.