The Associated Press is reporting that Dick Heller, the man whose lawsuit overturned Washington's handgun ban, has successfully registered his revolver, ending a more than 30-year wait to keep the weapon in his home.

By Chad D. Baus

As a regular church attendee, the issue of church security and the more than 500% increase in church shootings over the past 8 years is near and dear to my heart. In recent months, I have written several articles on the subject of the need for security preparations in places of worship.

In "Ohio's ban on defending lives in places of worship: How did it get this bad?" I noted that, thanks to Ohio law, CHL-holders are banned from attending worship services (or even entering the building) while armed, unless they have received special permission from church/synagogue/mosque officials.

In "New Life Church Pastor Brady Boyd speaks out on church security preparedness", I recounted a discussion by New Life Church Pastor Brady Boyd over how churches need to recognize that they are targets of violence in this day and age, and about how (thankfully) his church had prepared in advance for such a day.

And the "Security for Faith-Based Organizations Seminar" at greater Cincinnati's Creation Museum" offers church leaders advice on making all types of security preparations.

As the Denver Post recently reported, concerns over security at places of worship have been increasing in the wake of massacre after massacre in "no-guns" (victim disarmament) zones across the country - most recently at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville.

Typically when discussions of making preparations to harden soft targets such as schools and university campuses is discussed, the mainstream media is quick to attack the idea. But as two recent news stories indicate, even news outlets in anti-gun cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh are becoming more willing to at least give unbiased coverage of the issue.

Buckeye Firearms Association Legislative Chair Ken Hanson is about to release an Instructor Update that will address many of the concerns facing Ohio Concealed Handgun License (CHL)/NRA Certified Instructors as the time for the first round recertification of CHL students' competency approaches.

From the update:

With the passing of SB184, and with Ohio’s Concealed Carry law approaching the 5 year anniversary date of passage, I have been receiving questions about what exactly is required to “recertify” a licensee. As you will recall, the competency certificates are good for 6 years from the date of issuance. At 6 years and one day they “expire” and can no longer be used for licensing purposes.

General confusion has arisen over what process to use, and what type of paper to give, to recertify a student.

...So what, exactly, must be done for the recertification?

Only subscribers to Buckeye Firearms Assocation's FREE Pro-Gun Newsletter will receive this Instructors' Update, which will be emailed to subscribers on Monday, August 25th.

If you are not a subscriber, please SUBSCRIBE NOW. Don't miss out on this opportunity to receive this crucial Instructor's Update free of charge!

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, trustees at the the Harrold Independent School District in northern Texas voted to allow teachers to bring handguns on campus when classes start this month, as long as they meet licensing and other requirements.

David Thweatt, superintendent of the 110-student district, told the newspaper they adopted this policy because of shooting sprees at Virginia Tech, the Amish school and other educational institutions.

"When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that’s when all of these shootings started," Thweatt is quoted as saying. "Why would you put it out there that a group of people can’t defend themselves? That’s like saying 'sic ’em’ to a dog."

By Chad D. Baus

Northeast Ohio media outlets are reporting on a Henrietta Township (Lorain Co.) trustee meeting that heard complaints from a couple who bought their "dream house" next to the 60 year-old Firelands (Boy) Scout Reservation and shooting range.

"It's constant banging all day long," Deborah Banyas whined to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Even if we go in the house, close the windows and turn up music, it's loud. It never stops."

Banyas and her husband, Terry Speer, live on their 20-acre property, home to their Riverdog Art Studio, where the two artists make sculptures. The story says they have a hard time working with all the racket coming from the 450-acre reservation next door.

Is it just me, or is this something akin to moving in next to railroad tracks and complaining about the trains?

USA Today reported recently that the Transportation Security Administration may allow airports to ban firearms from terminals, parking lots, roads and other airport areas where many states currently allow passengers to carry lethal weapons, eliminating persons' right to bear arms for self-defense even while driving to and from the airport.