Lawmakers divided over proposed law's loopholes

By Amy Aldridge

After a long, drawn-out battle between the Ohio House of Representatives and the Senate, progress is being made toward a final agreement on the issue of concealed handguns.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

Gongwer News Service
The Ohio Report
October 28, 2003

House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) Tuesday appointed Rep. Lance Mason (D-Cleveland) to replace Rep. Charles Wilson (D-St. Clairsville) as one of three House members that will attempt to reconcile House and Senate versions of a concealed carry handgun bill.

Mr. Householder made the switch at the request of Rep. Barbara Sykes (D-Akron), president of the Legislative Black Caucus, according to Dwight Crum, spokesman for Speaker Householder. Mr. Crum said Rep. Sykes spoke with Mr. Householder and made a convincing case that a representative of the Assembly’s black caucus should sit on the six-member panel.

House Minority Leader Chris Redfern (D-Catawba Island) said he too had asked the speaker to make the switch previously. “I wanted Lance because he’s the ranking minority member of the Criminal Justice Committee and traditionally, that’s how these things are done,” he said.

The joint committee was named this month to work on HB 12 that, with certain exceptions, allows Ohioans to carry concealed weapons. As passed by the Senate, the bill has the approval of Governor Bob Taft, who said unlike the House version, it met his test of having the support of key law enforcement representatives or at least their neutrality. The other House conferees are Reps. Jim Aslanides (R-Coshocton) and Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green). The Senate conferees are Senate President Doug White (R-Manchester) and Senators Scott Nein (R-Middletown) and Marc Dann (D-Youngstown).

Commentary:
Rep. Mason's race, in and of itself, should not have played any role in his appointment to this committee. However, Mason is the Criminal Justice Committee's ranking minority party member, and tradition suggests his placement is appropriate.

As we have reported in the past, race most definitely IS an issue in Ohio's concealed carry ban, and with gun control in general. If the legislators wish to make a statement against racial prejudice, they should act quickly to overturn Ohio's 144-year old ban on carrying a concealed firearm for self-defense. As was noted by Supreme Court Justice Wanamaker in 1920 (State v. Nieto), the law's very foundation was contrived in racism.

Related Stories:
What's race got to do with it? A LOT.

Self-Defense Advocates Call on Legislature to Act in Wake of Ohio Supreme Court

Youngstown 'Defense' Walk organizer Rick Kaleda has announced that Democrat Sen. Marc Dann has accepted an invitation to participate in the Youngstown 'Defense' Walk this weekend!

Many state legislators have been invited, but Senator Dann is the first to accept. Ohioans For Concealed Carry appreciates his leadership on this issue as a member of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice which considered House Bill 12.

Sen. Dann was named by Senate President Doug White (R) as the minority member of the recently-appointed HB12 Conference Committee. He is the ONLY Senator who White appointed that has heard testimony on this legislation. We look forward to his informed leadership in that position as well.

As we reported two weeks ago, Youngstown 'Defense' Walk organizer Rick Kaleda had quite a time getting through all the bureaucratic red tape thrown at him when he began organizing his Walk. Fortunately, Kaleda endured, and his Walk is going to be held this weekend in downtown Youngstown.

This is an important Walk, because up to now, the Youngstown media has completely ignored this statewide grassroots movement. They can't really ignore it now.

The Youngstown Vindicator has posted an online poll, inquiring opinions on whether the Ohio Legislature should act by the end of the year to permit people in Ohio to carry concealed weapons. Click here to vote!

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Youngstown city bureaucrats infringing on multiple Constitutional rights

Is no 'Defense' Walk news good news for these Ohio media outlets?

Toby Hoover and her so-called Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence (more appropriately described as Against Gun Ownership) has scheduled their very own Frightened Friday. Hoover is asking other extremists to call Bob Taft on Halloween, to request that he continue his obstruction of concealed carry reform.

Click on the "Read More..." link below to read her latest email alert (as usual, corrected for spelling errors). And remember - you don't have to wait until Frightened Friday to make your call to the Governor!