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I may not be able to do the same this year. Taft has indicated a willingness to compromise with state legislators. They can have the conceal-and-carry legislation if they give him what he wants — a law that requires safe storage of firearms to protect children. Both bills stalled in committee in the last term of the Legislature.

Leaders of both houses say they have enough votes to pass the conceal-and-carry bill. Senate President Richard Finan, R-Cincinnati, said, however, he would not support the bill if Taft remains against it. Taft has said he won’t support it as long as law enforcement opposes it.

Taft shouldn’t change now. It’s a bad compromise. He should compromise on something else — how about legislation making the official state color red?

Sure, the conceal-and-carry legislation may prevent carrying guns into churches. I’m sure my dad, a minister, would appreciate that because there’s always bound to be someone in the congregation who didn’t like his sermon.

There’s an exemption for schools, too. As a teacher, I would appreciate that. I know there are some students who don’t particularly like the homework I give. But would I have a gun check at the door of the classroom, or can I depend on the school administration to protect me? Come to think of it, who’s going to keep the administrators’ guns holstered?

Next thing you know, there will be legislation reviving a bill introduced decades ago by former Rep. Gene Damschroder, father of current Rep. Rex A. Damschroder, R-Fremont. He wanted to enclose both the Senate and House with bulletproof glass.

I’m not a member of the National Rifle Association, but I don’t donate to gun control groups, either. I don’t think hunters should be prevented from hunting, and I don’t think gun collectors should be prevented from collecting. It’s not something I would do. I prefer playing golf and collecting Ernest Hemingway books and memorabilia. Hemingway was an accomplished hunter.

The only gun my family owned in three generations was a pellet rifle, which I used to get rid of a couple of noisy pigeons long ago. I’m a fair shot. When I nailed three out of five bullseyes with a BB rifle at a Cub Scout event recently, the instructor thought I was a regular shooter. OK, so a BB gun doesn’t have the kick of a regular rifle, but it was pretty good anyway.

I don’t believe in a literal interpretation of the Constitution. In fact, I think there was a typo in the Second Amendment. I think the founders misspelled one word and dropped another. The amendment should read “...the right to bare their arms.” See, I think they were upset the English monarch required them to wear those heavy clothes. America had much better beaches than England and the colonists wanted to hang out there and get some sun.

Law enforcement groups strongly oppose the conceal-and-carry legislation. I don’t always agree with the police about access to crime or accident scenes or records. On this topic, however, I’m willing to defer to their expertise, which the Legislature is apparently unwilling to do. Common sense indicates the jobs of police would become significantly more dangerous if people can carry guns on the street or in their cars in places unseen.

Stories by the Dayton Daily News recently showed that Ohio is a major source of guns used in crimes in other states. The NRA’s view that current gun laws should be more strictly enforced seems more appropriate than outfitting everyone with a piece. Frankly, I’m not sure I could trust some people with packing.

Think of the problem for the Secret Service agents who have to protect President George W. Bush when he comes to Ohio. Do we really want concealed guns in the hands of a bunch of Democrats, particularly those whose votes didn’t count because of pregnant chads?

Taft should stick to his guns, so to speak, before red truly becomes the state’s official color on its sidewalks, streets and lawns.