Buckeye Firearms Assoc. endorsees dominate leadership positions in State House & Senate majority caucuses

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

Senate President and House Speaker are both BFA “A+” – rated

by Chad D. Baus

Buckeye Firearms Association endorsees have been elected by both House and Senate Republicans to a majority of leadership positions in their respective chambers for the 130th General Assembly, which convenes in January.

In the Senate, Republicans have elected BFA “A+” -rated Sen. Keith Faber of Celina as Senate President. Faber has held other leadership positions in the Senate, and is a former endorsee of this political action committee.

Other Republicans elected to leadership positions are “A” -rated Sens. Chris Widener of Springfield, president pro tempore; Tom Patton of Strongsville, majority floor leader; Larry Obhof of Medina, majority whip – all are also former endorsees of Buckeye Firearms Association.

Sen. Faber will succeed Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), who is leaving the legislature at the end of the year due to term limits.

In the House, Republicans reelected “A+” -rated Speaker Bill Batchelder to lead the caucus, and retained all of the leadership team who are returning next year.

“A” -rated Reps. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) will serve as pro tem, Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania) as majority leader, John Adams (R-Sidney) as assistant majority floor leader, Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) as majority whip and Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) as assistant majority whip. All are former BFA-endorsees.

On the Democrats’ side, with a couple of exceptions, caucus leaders in the House and Senate are much less friendly to gun owners.

Senate holds hearing and considers sponsor testimony on HB495 (Reciprocity & Concealed Carry Modernization)

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Jim Irvine

Representative Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) gave sponsor testimony for HB495 before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, November 27.

Rep. Johnson explained to the committee that the bill, which has already been passed by the House passed in the House by a 59 – 28 margin, would eliminate the ill-conceived “demonstrated competency” requirement that will potentially cause huge problems for Ohio sheriffs and concealed handgun license holders (CHLs) next year, correct the definition of a “loaded” firearm, and move toward an automatic reciprocity system for CHLs, similar to how drivers licenses works.

There were no questions or concerns raised by the committee.

Committees generally meet once per week, but during lame duck there are often cancellations or extra sessions on different days to accommodate the huge workload as legislators work to finish all priority bills before they die at the end of session. Plans change quickly and flexibility is important.

Behind the scenes, Buckeye Firearms Association is reaching out to all committee members to ask for their support for the bill, and to address any questions or concerns they might have. We will be prepared to offer testimony at an as yet to be announced proponent hearing, and will inform Senators as to why this legislation is important and good for Ohio.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Jim Irvine is the Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman, and recipient of the NRA-ILA’s 2011 “Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award” and the CCRKBA’s 2012 “Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award.”

A shooting trip turns very special

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Larry S. Moore

When I first reported on the Clark County Sportsmen Club, I indicated that I really wished I had my shotgun to shoot a round of sporting clays. I soon returned to the club to shoot. It turned out to be more special than I could have ever dreamed.

The day started, like many other trips to the range, with deciding what shotgun to use today, gathering the shells and range bag plus the anticipation. I was going with a long-time shooting buddy Dennis Evans.

We thought about asking our friend, and mentor, Karl Wilburn to tag along. Karl, who is into his early 80’s, has had some health issues that limited his shooting over the last few years. He is getting his strength back and had a better summer. A quick phone call and Karl agreed to go but indicated he wouldn’t shoot. That’s fine with us. We always enjoy Karl’s company, humor and endless string of shooting stories. However, when we arrived at his house, he was busily scurrying around getting his vest, shotgun and shells together. Even better to have another chance to share the range with him!

During the short ride to the club, Karl wondered if any of his old shooting buddies might still be there. Unbeknownst to us, Karl is a life member of the Clark County Sportsmen’s Club. We already knew that Karl was an All-Ohio State trapshooter during his days of active competition. Karl walked up to the porch and started talking to another older gentleman. It took a few minutes for the connection, but it was one of his old shooting and hunting buddies, Lowell Norton. Lowell invited us shoot with his squad, and we quickly accepted. We had the most enjoyable round of sporting clays that I’ve shot perhaps in my life.

Watching Lowell and Karl as they shot, told stories and the old friends reconnected was simply priceless. I know Karl wore a big smile for the entire round. After the last bird was thrown and the scores tallied, Dennis had the best score, but Lowell was in the hunt, besting both Karl and I by a couple of targets. The shooting was over but the best part was yet to come.

Buckeye Firearms Association’s Sean Maloney to guest host radio program on four upcoming dates

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

Buckeye Firearms Association Region Leader Sean Maloney has been invited to guest host WBZI 1500 AM’s “Class Country Outdoors” radio program.

In addition to answering questions on topics raised by listeners who phone in, Maloney will address issues such as:

  • Legislative efforts to protect and improve gun rights at the state and federal level
  • What can happen if a CHL holder fires his weapon in an incident…. what can he expect from police, courts, lawyers etc… what should he do and what should he not do and what could be penalties?
  • Selecting a CHL course, instructor and selecting a defense handgun, holster, ammo and how to practice.
  • Traveling on vacation with a handgun
  • And much, much more…

Maloney’s first show aired November 11. Upcoming show dates are:

– December 2
– December 23
– January 20
– February 10

The one hour radio program is broadcast live Sundays at noon on AM 1500 WBZI Xenia, AM 1130 WEDI Dayton, AM 1090 WKFI Wilmington, and is streamed on the Internet at www.MyClassicCountry.com.

Sean Maloney is a Buckeye Firearms Association Region Leader, a Second Amendment Rights attorney in West Chester, OH, an NRA Benefactor Lifetime Member, NRA Election Volunteer Coordinator for Ohio’s 8th Congressional District, an active NRA Instructor, currently serves on the “Grassroots Development” committee of the National Rifle Association and received the NRA’s 2011 “Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award.”

Headline: School shooting protocol shifts from lockdown-only

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Chad D. Baus

ABC News reported recently that a new program, soon to come to Ohio, is allowing students to receive training that would give them a more proactive role in responding to a school shooter. Instead of hiding, they would barricade doors and learn counter techniques.

From the article:

The program, called ALICE — alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate — has been implemented in 300 schools since it was founded in the mid-2000s by former SWAT officer Greg Crane and his wife, a former school principal.

After the Columbine shooting in 1999, Crane said he realized the lockdown-only policies most schools have aren’t enough to protect students if there is a shooter on the loose. By locking doors and hiding, students become easy targets, he said.

“You look at Columbine and every single child killed in the library that morning,” Crane told ABCNews.com, referring to the library in which 52 children and teachers hid for more than four minutes before the gunmen entered and shot 18 of them. “They were all sitting down. … Why were they there five minutes when they had five minutes to do something else?”

In Canton, the adoption of ALICE training has been received with some hesitation from the Canton School Committee, the Boston Globe reports. After a reporter questioned local officials, the committee called a meeting on Nov. 15 to discuss the program.

“Truthfully, we’re a little behind the information curve on all of this,” committee chairman John Bonnanzio told the Globe on Thursday. “At the very least we need to be able to ask some questions. We think the community should be able to weigh in, too.”

According to Crane, the C in ALICE is for “counter,” and that’s often the most controversial step, but it’s also a last resort.

Hunters Prepare for Ohio’s Traditional Deer-Gun Season

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

Hunters may donate to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio’s week-long deer-gun season begins statewide Monday, Nov. 26 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 2, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The season again includes an extra weekend of gun hunting Dec. 15-16.

“Deer-gun season is a great Ohio tradition and an opportunity for hunters to spend time with friends and family in the outdoors,” said ODNR Director James Zehringer. “I encourage everyone to take proper safety precautions, such as using a safety harness while in a tree stand, wearing hunter orange and being aware of their surroundings.”

Deer can be hunted with a muzzleloader, handgun or shotgun from one half-hour before sunrise to sunset during the gun season. ODNR Division of Wildlife anticipates 80,000-85,000 deer will be checked and tagged during the week-long hunt. Approximately 420,000 hunters are expected to participate in this year’s season, including many out-of-state hunters.

“Ohio has long managed our deer with the goal of producing both a high-quality herd balanced by a tolerable quantity of animals for all to enjoy,” said Scott Zody, chief of ODNR’s Division of Wildlife. “I greatly appreciate the awareness of both our resident and non-resident hunters recognizing quality deer management means harvesting does and not just bucks. As a result, Ohio is a top 10 whitetail hunting destination.”

© 2002-2024 Buckeye Firearms Association