House Criminal Justice committee Chairman John White (R-38) has rescheduled SB184 for a fourth hearing next week. Once again, the Chairman has indicated that an amendment may be offered before a possible…
Author: Buckeye Firearms Association
Ohio State Highway Patrol warns: Crimes occurring at Ohio rest stops
One of the important aspects of the pending amendment to Ohio’s Castle Doctrine bill now on hold in the House Criminal Justice Committee is a change that would amend O.R.C. 2923.126(B) in the governmental building category to exempt shelters, restrooms and parking garages from the definition.
As yet another news media story this week proves, this change can come none too soon.
McCain reiterates willingness to consider assault weapons ban
By Chad D. Baus
From signing onto an amicus brief in support of the individual right to own firearms to attending the NRA Annual Meetings, Republican presidential nominee John McCain is doing everything he can to help America’s gun owners forget his past decade of work opposing gun rights.
He glosses over McCain-Feingold campaign finance “reform” legislation, once referred to by NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre as “the dirtiest, stinkingest assault on freedom I’ve ever seen” by saying “I can assure you that my motivation in this effort was directed at these out-of-control amounts of ‘soft money’ that seeped into federal campaigns — not a desire to restrict the ability of gun owners or any other group of citizens from making their voices heard in the legislative process.” (as though being an unintended consequence somehow makes the loss of our free-speech rights any less of an issue).
He glosses over McCain-Leiberman legislation aimed at closing the non-existent gun show “loophole” by saying “I also oppose efforts to require federal regulation of all private sales such as a transfer between a father and son or husband and wife.” (yes, this is code-speak for ‘I still support efforts that would end private sale of guns at guns shows and likely lead to the end of gun shows altogether’).
And now, even as he attempted to gloss over prior statements that he could support an assault weapons ban, depending on the details, he has repeated his belief that there may be a way an assault weapons ban could be drawn that could win his support!
HB450 (Armed Services 18-21 purchase) passes Ohio House with bi-partisan support
With a strong bi-partisan 90-3 vote, the Ohio House of Representatives has passed HB450, sponsored by Representative Bruce Goodwin (R-74).
“This is important legislation,” said Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman Jim Irvine. “We are talking about men and women who volunteered to lay their life on the line for their country and their fellow man. We trust them with the full might of the U.S. military. Surely we can trust them with a handgun when they return home from duty.”
CALL TO ACTION! Let legislators know you want Castle Doctrine NOW!
A vote on SB184, the Castle Doctrine bill, may finally be coming up for a vote. This legislation will restore your right to defend yourself and your family with force when faced with a deadly threat. It would also protect you from predatory civil lawsuits by criminals or their family.
Also up for a vote is a Buckeye Firearms Association and NRA backed amendment to SB184 which would prevent authorities from seizing your guns during an emergency and make other important improvements (see below).
We have Governor Strickland in our corner, but the outcome is not yet certain. The elitist Ohio Fraternal Order of Police union is staging a full assault to derail this bill.
If you want Castle Doctrine in Ohio, you MUST keep up the phone calls, e-mails, and letters to legislators. Tell them you want the bill PASSED. Tell them you will watch their actions and votes carefully and will remember what they do come Election Day.
If you’ve already done this, DO IT AGAIN! Be POLITE. Be firm. Be relentless. We NEED YOU to help us get this bill passed.
Yes, it’s a holiday weekend. Don’t let that stop you. Call and write every day until you hear that the bill is passed. Don’t let up. Keep the pressure on!
CLICK HERE to look up your Representatives. We need to make calls and send e-mails to EVERY representative in Ohio.
CLICK HERE to write a letter to your Representatives. Use our pre-written letter or write your own. We’ll see it gets delivered.
Here are the House Criminal Justice Committee Members:
- John J. White (R) District 38 – (614) 466-6504 – district38@ohr.state.oh.us
- Barbara R. Sears (R) District 46 – (614) 466-1731 – district46@ohr.state.oh.us
- Louis W. Blessing, Jr. (R) District 29 – (614) 466-9091 – district29@ohr.state.oh.us
- Jim Carmichael (R) District 03 – (614) 466-1474 – district03@ohr.state.oh.us
- Tony Core (R) District 83 – (614) 466-8147 – district83@ohr.state.oh.us
- Jim Hughes (R) District 22 – (614) 466-2473 – district22@ohr.state.oh.us
- Jon M. Peterson (R) District 02 – (614) 644-6711 – district02@ohr.state.oh.us
- Joseph W. Uecker (R) District 66 – (614) 466-8134 – district66@ohr.state.oh.us
- Timothy J. DeGeeter (D) District 15 – (614) 466-3485 – district15@ohr.state.oh.us
- Stephen Dyer (D) District 43 – (614) 466-1790 – district43@ohr.state.oh.us
- Tracy Heard (D) District 26 – (614) 466-8010 – district26@ohr.state.oh.us
- Dale Mallory (D) District 32 – (614) 466-1645 – district32@ohr.state.oh.us
- Sandra Williams (D) District 11 – (614) 466-1414 – district11@ohr.state.oh.us
- Tyrone K. Yates (D) District 33 – (614) 466-1308 – district33@ohr.state.oh.us
- Kenny Yuko (D) District 7 – (614) 466-8012 – district07@ohr.state.oh.us
Governor Strickland tells FOP where to stick it on gun bill; Republicans should do the same
Grassroots pro-gun groups have a bill under consideration in the Statehouse, and elitist union leaders at the Fraternal Order of Police are opposed. Deja vu all over again?
Not so fast.
Gun owners have reason to hope, because this time around, we have a Democrat in the Governor’s office.
Yes, you read that on a pro-gun website.
GUN OWNERS CAN BE THANKFUL THAT DEMOCRAT TED STRICKLAND IS OUR GOVERNOR.
Police union aims to seize your rights
By Jim Irvine
The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) will be holding a press conference on Wednesday to protest Ohio’s law abiding citizens’ firearms rights. Date and time are yet to be announced, but they have made it clear that they will do whatever they can to prevent your rights from being restored.
While the vast majority of the rank and file officers support you and your rights, the FOP, led by their Legislative Chairman Mark Drum, does not. This extreme and out of touch organization is brow beating your legislature and Governor over an amendment that restores your rights.
McCain’s appearance at NRA Annual Meetings as flat as his record of support for gun rights
“Is it possible that John McCain thinks you have too much freedom?”
– NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, 2001
– NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, 2001
John McCain’s closing speech at the “Celebration of American Values” conference at the NRA’s 2008 Annual Meetings last Friday was a real clinker, and not just because he was boring, uninspired, unmotivated and talking out of both sides of his mouth.
No, I realized how much of a clinker his speech to the thousands of NRA members in attendance was as I stood at the back of the auditorium and listened to the turn-styles at the exits.
Clink, clink. Clink, clink. Clink, clink.
Boston residents ignore the anti-gun “Safe Homes Initiative”
By Brian S. Stewart
The Boston metropolitan area totals 3,406,829 people. As of April 30, it looks like 3 of them have taken advantage of the city’s controversial anti-gun program billed as the “Safe Homes Initiative.”
Castle Doctrine bill needs your support NOW!
UPDATE: (5.22.08 12:00PM)
For the fourth time this month, House Criminal Justice Chairman John White (R-38) has put off a possible vote on SB184, the Castle Doctrine bill. Although a Governor Strickland-, Buckeye Firearms Association- and NRA-backed amendment was circulated before the meeting, White did not give the committee opportunity to adopt the amendment.
The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police union is staging a full assault on your rights and the amendment that would restore them. Legislators are listening to their complaints and your rights to keep and bear arms are being infringed.
It is IMPERATIVE that calls and emails continue to be made to legislators, asking that the bill be amended and passed before summer break.
UPDATE: (5.21.08 3:35PM)
Governor Strickland tells FOP where to stick it on gun bill; Republicans should do the same
Governor Strickland has made it clear that he supports these “reasonable and appropriate” improvements to Ohio law. So with objections from the Governor’s mansion a thing of the past, an amended SB184 should be on its way to easy passage, right?
Apparently not. The amendment was not adopted by the House Criminal Justice Committee today, as originally scheduled, nor was the bill given a vote.
Ohio gun owners and their friends who support the right to self-defense need to contact their state representatives immediately (especially the Republicans, who currently control the committee and legislature as a whole) and encourage them to disregard the rantings of the FOP and to join Governor Ted Strickland in support of this amendment.