Author: Buckeye Firearms Association

Deceptive Mayors Against Illegal Guns Campaign Prompts No Concern from Ohio Members

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Jason Hart

Ohio members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) appear unconcerned that the group’s latest campaign suggests more gun control would have prevented the recent school shooting in Connecticut. Media Trackers contacted thirteen of the Ohio mayors listed as members of MAIG, offering a chance to comment on the “Demand A Plan” campaign, but only two mayors have responded in over two weeks.

The Newtown shooter stole his mother’s legally-purchased guns, in a state which already has some of America’s strictest gun control laws. Neither of these facts seem to matter to MAIG, a liberal organization managed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office in New York.

Media Trackers supplied the mayors of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Dayton, Youngstown, Englewood, Carroll, Lima, Marietta, Springfield, Steubenville, and Whitehall with the two following MAIG ads from Facebook:

MAIG Facebook ad, 12/27/2012

MAIG Facebook ad, 12/27/2012
MAIG Facebook ad, 12/23/2012

MAIG Facebook ad, 12/23/2012

The MAIG “No More Newtowns!” ads showing a little girl crying – an explicit attempt to leverage the Newtown mass murder for more gun control – began appearing on Facebook before Christmas and continued through the new year.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson politely confirmed that Jackson is, indeed, a MAIG member. Mayor Jackson had no comment on the Newtown ad campaign.

In his reply to a separate Media Trackers records request submitted January 15, Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell included a response he recently sent to a constituent who implored him to leave MAIG.

“Best thing for me to do is keep hold of the guns I own and support the constitution of the United States with fairness and impartiality as I swore to do on January 4, 2010,” Leitzell wrote. “I am against illegal firearms. Therefore it is fitting that I am recognized as such.”

At publication, the other eleven mayors contacted by Media Trackers have responded to none of the inquiries sent since the end of December. Media Trackers has submitted additional open records requests to several cities to determine the extent of their mayors’ engagement with Bloomberg’s anti-Second Amendment lobbying group.

Anti-Actions, Emotional Words, and Silly Classifications

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by Jim Shepherd

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a Staten Island, New York school panel has passed a resolution recommending armed, retired New York City police officers be hired to patrol local schools as a part of an increased security proposal. The Times is also reporting, however, that the city’s Board of Education has already said “no way” to the plan.

It points out two important facts: one, school administrators are recognizing that the National Rifle Association’s much-maligned proposal to place trained, armed guards has merit and, two, that it doesn’t matter what school leaders think, political positions will keep the enhanced security out of many schools. One action recognizes the fact that teachers are realizing that “gun-free zones” aren’t safe. The second points out the fact that gun control, not student safety, is what’s driving the bus on this issue.

The Staten Island plan approved Monday would have used “buzzer” systems to admit visitors in conjunction with the placing of 300-500 retired NYPD officers in the schools, giving them peace officer status and taking advantage of their existing concealed-carry permits. The concealed-carry permit means the schools wouldn’t have to buy guns, and students wouldn’t have to see them openly carried.

The point of the plan according to Michael Reilly, co-chair of the Safety and Transportation Comunity for Community Education Council 31 of Staten Island was deterrence -the idea of preventing anyone from picking a school to make a statement.

You can read the article yourself at http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-staten-island-armed-officers-schools-20130108,0,1565450.story. It is the first mainstream media recognition of the fact that safety isn’t the reason anti-gun officials are so opposed to the idea of armed guards in schools. They’re opposing the idea because their admission that gun-free zones don’t work would undermine attempts to push through additional gun regulations and restrictions.

Buckeye Firearms Assn. informs Ohio mayors of proof they’ve been misled by Mayors Against Illegal Guns; 11 drop out – Has yours?

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

This article will be UPDATED as more mayors drop out.

by Chad D. Baus

Buckeye Firearms Association has put Ohio members of New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) on notice: They were misled when they agreed to join the group, and they no longer have any excuse to claim they didn’t know.

In late Spring 2011, after Florida Carry, Inc. founder Sean Caranna uncovered evidence that the City of Orlando was using taxpayer money to fund a portion of the salary and other expenses for MAIG “Regional Coordinator” to operate out of the mayor’s office, Buckeye Firearms Association and Media Trackers Ohio (MTO), operating independently, submitted public records requests to Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman’s office. Coleman’s office was identified by Caranna as one of at least ten such mayor’s offices with MAIG operatives already in place across the country.

Thousands upon thousands of emails were delivered. Since then, we’ve published several articles by MTO’s Jesse Hathaway here at BuckeyeFirearms.org, in addition to information we uncovered in our own articles, all of which make some startling revelations.

On the week of December 10, we began an effort to notify all of the Ohio mayors listed by MAIG as members on their internal membership contact lists (obtained via the public records request), about the substance of these investigations.

Namely, these mayors (listed below) have been informed that, contrary to what they were told when they were recruited, MAIG has been doing far more than going after so-called “illegal” guns – they’re working to oppose efforts to defend and improve the Second Amendment rights for law-abiding Ohioans. And we have offered their members the proof.

Greene County resident inducted into the NMLRA Black Powder Hall of Fame

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by Larry S. Moore

Greene County resident Marty Murphy has been involved in the shooting sports nearly all his life. He has served both the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA) in a variety of positions. He was recently inducted into the NMLRA Black Powder Hall of Fame. The words on his plaque provide some insight to the commitment and impact, “In recognition of, and grateful appreciation for, services rendered to preserve and enhance black powder sport. The recipient’s achievements have demonstrated a profound dedication to support, preserve and nurture key aspects of our sport, and have set new standards for future generations of black powder shooters.”

Murphy noted that he started shooting and hunting as a youngster. It was his time in the Marine Corps where he developed an interest in competitive shooting. While in the Marines he shot with their rifle and pistol team. After his service with the Marines concluded, Murphy returned home continuing to hunt and shoot.

Murphy continues, “It was after Shirley and I married that I became involved with the NMLRA. It was her influence that got me to the ranges at Friendship, Indiana where she ran the pistol shack. I was soon shooting muzzle loading pistols in competition. I attended my first shoot in 1973. Things rather took off from that point as I started working with her in the pistol shack. I became a Range Officer, Chief Range Officer for the pistol range and Chairman of the Pistol Committee. Other opportunities soon developed. Today women involved in the shooting sports is growing enormously but Shirley was involved in the early days.” Murphy served as a NRA Range Officer for a “Women and Guns” day hosted at the local Greene County Fish and Game Club in 1990. This event was well ahead of the times for getting women to learn about guns and shoot on the ranges.

While Murphy’s love of shooting is centered on the pistol competition, it’s obvious the axiom that behind every successful man is a good woman is true. Shirley noted, “There were times when he was away from home that made it a little difficult but it worked out well. I’m proud of him. I cried with joy when he was presented his plaque.”

Montpelier, Ohio school board decision: Staff will be armed

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More than two dozen northwest Ohio teachers sign up for free concealed carry class

by Chad D. Baus

The Bryan Times is reporting that staff members in Williams Co., Ohio’s Montpelier Schools will soon be armed.

From the article:

The district’s board of education voted Wednesday to adopt a policy allowing certain individuals to carry concealed firearms on the premises.

The decision came in the wake of December’s shooting attack at an elementary school in Sandy Hook, Conn. Dr. Jamison Grime, superintendent, said the individuals will be members of the staff, not hired guards. He said they will not be identified, presumably for security purposes, and they will not carry the weapons until they have received concealed carry training.

Grime did not immediately offer more details on the decision, which was made following an executive session at the end of the board’s regular meeting.

The regular session saw Darrell Higbie, a veteran of the Montpelier Police Department, sworn in as a new member.

Higbie has worked for the police department since 1994, and has two children attending Montpelier schools. He replaces John Kaylor, who resigned in December because he was moving out of the area.

While it is not the first school in Ohio to allow certain members of its staff to go armed, the Montpelier Board of Education may be the first to announce the decision publicly.

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