When our Founding Fathers set out to establish the governing laws of this nation, much debate centered on the importance of individual freedom. These early leaders recognized that in order to build and maintain a successful society, government power must be limited, citizens must be engaged and every person should be guaranteed certain unalienable rights…

Most of us learn about the Constitution in school and, over time, grow to appreciate the rights and privileges this important document grants us. However, on occasion, there have been some who have questioned the merit of these freedoms and have done their best to restrict them. In particular, a number of anti-gun activists have fought hard over the years to place restrictions on our 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. In the midst of this struggle, the Ohio General Assembly has taken a number of important steps to ensure law-abiding citizens are able to exercise their Constitutional rights.

Before the [oringinal concealed carry] bill went into effect, opponents predicted violent crime would increase, but the reality is that since we passed the law, more than 85,000 Ohioans have obtained concealed-carry permits and there has been no evidence that our communities are any less safe than before.

In fact, evidence shows concealed-carry permit holders have actually prevented crime. A recent article in the Columbus Dispatch highlighted a case in which the president of the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, who happens to be a concealed-carry permit holder, was able to fend off an attacker by simply pointing his unloaded weapon at the assailant. Despite what opponents have said, the lack of incidents since concealed carry became law is proof gun violence comes from criminals, not law-abiding citizens who are properly trained and permitted.