There were 18 random mass shootings in the 1980s, 54 in the 1990s, and 87 in the 2000s. by David Kopel Has the rate of random mass shootings in the United States…
Author: Buckeye Firearms Association
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine calls for arming school employees
by Chad D. Baus
Various Ohio media are reporting that advocates who’ve long been calling for arming our teachers to deter mass murderers and to stop them if they can, have a new ally: Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine (R).
From The Columbus Dispatch:
Attorney General Mike DeWine said today that Ohio schools should consider arming at least one staffer in their building in case of a shooting.
Stressing that it was a local decision, DeWine said, “If I was on a school board … I would seriously consider having someone in that school, who may be an ex-police officer, someone who has significant training, someone who had access to a gun in school.
“But you would have to be very careful about it. I’m not saying everyone in the school should be armed but someone who knows what they are doing and who has that gun under lock and key and can get to it instantly out of their office. That’s something I would at least debate and talk about.”
…”We traditionally think of first responders as law enforcement, police and fire departments. But when there is a school emergency, teachers and educators are really the first responders to our children,” DeWine said. “We need to take a holistic approach and make sure educators are prepared for any type of emergency and threat.”
According to
Across the nation and around the world: BFA brings facts to an extremely emotional nation following Connecticut killings
by Chad D. Baus
In the wake of the Auroro, CO “no-guns” theater shooting, Buckeye Firearms Association published an article entitled “How long is too long to wait to defend the Second Amendment?,” in which we discussed the dilemma we face each time another deranged lunatic decides to murder as many people as they can in a “no-guns” zone. In the article, I outlined how the media and gun control extremists had begun trying to score political points within just hours after the event.
Each time there is another such attack, I explained, we are forced to weigh the dangers of responding too quickly against the dangers of waiting too long. While there was once a time when withholding comment out of respect for those affected was possible, given this media environment, we’ve reached a point where waiting several days to publish an article, as we did last summer and again this past week, is almost “too long,” if we want to beat back the attacks.
Several years ago, we made the decision at Buckeye Firearms Association to respond when a response was necessary. Other pro-gun organizations and writers have also begun this practice. From discussing this issue with their “Facebook friends” to going on national television to speak truth to counter the deluge of anti-gun rights attacks, gun owners are no longer sitting back and letting their opponents rule the day in the media for days or weeks on end after such a terrible tragedy. That is what happened, to a large degree, in the aftermath of Columbine, and the effects are still felt to this day.
And so, several Buckeye Firearms Association leaders have been spending their time since the horrific events on Friday speaking with reporters, going on talk radio shows, seeking to get past the emotion in order to bring light to the facts about the challenges we face as a nation.
Following are some of the media articles or broadcasts that have included comments from Buckeye Firearms Association:
Op-Ed: I am Adam Lanza’s Mother
Friday’s horrific national tragedy, the murder of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, has ignited a new discussion on violence in America. Liza Long, a writer based in Boise, says it’s easy to talk about guns. But it’s time to talk about mental illness.
by Liza Long
Three days before 20 year-old Adam Lanza killed his mother, then opened fire on a classroom full of Connecticut kindergartners, my 13-year old son Michael (name changed) missed his bus because he was wearing the wrong color pants.
“I can wear these pants,” he said, his tone increasingly belligerent, the black-hole pupils of his eyes swallowing the blue irises.
“They are navy blue,” I told him. “Your school’s dress code says black or khaki pants only.”
“They told me I could wear these,” he insisted. “You’re a stupid bitch. I can wear whatever pants I want to. This is America. I have rights!”
“You can’t wear whatever pants you want to,” I said, my tone affable, reasonable. “And you definitely cannot call me a stupid bitch. You’re grounded from electronics for the rest of the day. Now get in the car, and I will take you to school.”
I live with a son who is mentally ill. I love my son. But he terrifies me.
Headline: Kasich Will Not Delay Signing Of New Gun Bill
by Chad D. Baus WBNS (CBS Columbus) is reporting that Gov. John Kasich said he will sign House Bill 495, even after calls on him to postpone his decision in wake of…
Bloomberg’s “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” Has Barely-Bipartisan Support in Ohio
by Jesse Hathaway The “bipartisan” support claimed by Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), a national coalition of more than 700 mostly progressive mayors, is slim and dwindling in Ohio. MAIG, founded by…
Our children are dying for our insanity; It’s time to emulate Israel’s successful efforts to prevent mass killings in schools
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. – Unknown by Jim Irvine Like you, my heart sank when I heard the news…
Ohio Offers Hunters Additional Weekend for Deer-Gun Season
COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio’s deer-gun season returns Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15-16, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Hunters can use a legal shotgun, muzzleloader or handgun to pursue white-tailed deer Dec. 15-16 from a half-hour before sunrise to sunset. The extra weekend days were added in 2006 in response to hunters’ requests for extended weekend hunting hours.
Ohio hunters and birdwatchers are reminded to be aware of one another as they pursue deer and birds on the shared weekend. Hunters need to remember that there may be other people — both hunters and non-hunters — in the woods. Birders are also reminded that hunters are allowed to hunt on private land where they have written permission. Deer hunters are required to wear a hunter orange vest, coat, jacket or coveralls in the field. Birders should consider wearing a hunter orange vest or hat during the deer-gun weekend for their own safety.
Hunters may take only one antlered deer, regardless of zone, hunting method or season. A deer permit is required in addition to a valid Ohio hunting license. Hunters must purchase an additional permit to hunt more than one deer. Hunters harvested 86,964 deer during the traditional deer-gun season, Nov. 26-Dec. 2.
Sharon Kennedy sworn in as Supreme Court justice; Credits hard work and support from Second Amendment advocates for her victory
by Chad D. Baus
Standing before a packed audience in the main courtroom of the Moyer Judicial Center, Sharon Kennedy was sworn in Friday, December 7 as Ohio’s 154th Supreme Court justice.
As reported by Gongwer News Service, Justice Kennedy, who had served as a domestic relations judge on the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, upset anti-gun incumbent Democrat Yvette McGee Brown last month.
From left: Sean Maloney, BFA Region Leader; Linda Walker, BFA Central Ohio Chair;
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy; Jim Irvine, BFA Chairman;
Dean Reick, BFA Marketing & Communications Director
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy; Jim Irvine, BFA Chairman;
Dean Reick, BFA Marketing & Communications Director
“The people of Ohio have bestowed upon me the greatest honor in my life by giving me the opportunity to serve this great state,” Justice Kennedy said after being sworn in. “I promise you, I will not let you down.”
Recently, Gongwer News reported that Kennedy, a 2012 Buckeye Firearms Association endorsee, told a gathering of the Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee that hard work and support from gun rights advocates across the state paved the way to her victory.
Supreme Court Justice-elect Sharon Kennedy told committee members that they shouldn’t believe claims that she defeated incumbent Democratic Justice Yvette McGee Brown only because she “was born to a famous name.” Instead, the Butler County Court of Common Pleas judge credited her victory to working non-stop and running a race “unlike any other at the Supreme Court level.”
She drove 100,000 miles campaigning across the state, she said, and her campaign distributed 200,000 flyers and mailers. In particular, she said her campaign targeted gun shows across the state to highlight her support of the Second Amendment. “I worked every gun show, every weekend, when there wasn’t something else going on across this great state,” she said.
Kennedy also reportedly told the committee that her experience as a police officer and her pledge to not legislate from the bench also resonated well with Ohio voters.
Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Assocation Vice Chairman.
UPDATE: Senate & House pass amended HB495; Bill sent to Governor Kasich for signature
Editor’s Note: This article is being updated as information becomes available.
by Chad D. Baus
An amended HB495 was passed by the Ohio Senate today by a 26-7 vote. Two and a half hours later, the Ohio House voted 66-23 to concur with Senate amendments.
The amended bill makes three changes to current law:
- Eliminates the “demonstrated competency” requirement for second and future CHL renewals, making CHL training similar to a hunting license.
- Fixes the definition of a “loaded gun” to match the commonly accepted definition.
- Allows law-abiding gun owners to have their firearms stored in their cars in the state-owned parking garages such as the one under the Statehouse.
Unfortunately, despite having support from Ohio’s chief law enforcement official, Attorney General Mike DeWine, concerns remained in the Senate over the reciprocity provisions and how it would work. In an attempt to address those concerns, the Senate Judiciary Committee amended the bill yesterday to allow 180 days before that provision took effect, rather than the standard 90 days. This would have given officials more time to prepare for the changes. In the end, however, in order to get an agreement for a floor vote, it was necessary to have the provision removed from the bill, with the commitment to come back and revisit it early next session.
As a result of this development, those who need to carry in states with which Ohio doesn’t have reciprocity will continue to need to go get other licenses.
Video of the Senate debate that preceded this development, including comments by the sponsor of the reciprocity amendment, Senator Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) can be viewed here.
Video of House concurrence debate can be viewed here.
“HB495 was good, common sense legislation,” said Jim Irvine, Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman. “As is common in politics, we didn’t get everything we wanted, but we dramatically improved the law. We solved the critical issues of removing the ill-conceived ‘demonstrated competency’ for renewals that start next month, and achieved a workable definition of a “unloaded firearm.'”
The bill will now be sent to Governor John Kasich for his signature.
Vote tallies and media coverage will be posted below as they become available.