Gun Show Fever! (It all began in Ohio)

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Chad D. Baus

The latest issue of the NRA’s American Hunter magazine features an interesting article by Philip Schreier, senior curator at the National Firearms Museum in suburban Washington D.C.

Entitled “Gun Show Fever!,” the article celebrates the sights, sounds and smells, the excitement and celebration of freedom that are today’s gun show.

From the article:

The great thing about gun shows is that no two are ever the same. You never know what you might find – some hidden gem, a rare bauble, possibly something totally unrelated to your interest in firearms but yet something so unique, so cool you never knew you couldn’t live without it until you actually saw it on some dealer’s table.

At a gun show you can shop for deals that beat buying something on line, hands down. Here you can pick up a gun, hold it, feel it, run your hands along its side, smell the Cosmoline, look down the sights. All of your senses are rewarded, and you don’t have to pay shipping charges. You can accessorize as well: Within six feet of the guy from which you purchased a six-digit M1 Garand is another dealer selling locking bar rear sights, web slings and bayonets. A few aisles over is a guy selling original World War II HBT Pacific theater uniforms and M1-C helmets. Before you know it you have completed another museum exhibit for your growing collection of cool stuff your spouse doesn’t understand.

Schreier also notes that gun shows “are a great place to renew old acquaintances and to make new ones in the gun collecting/shooting/ hunting worlds,” saying that at his favorite show in Oklahoma, “everyone is there, from Hank Williams Jr. to the college pal of yours you had no idea was into shooting sports.”

The article also informs readers on something which I suspect many are not aware – it all began in the Buckeye State.

Two versions of National Right To Carry legislation introduced in U.S. Senate

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Chad D. Baus

The National Rifle Association reported on March 13 that U.S. Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) have introduced S. 2188, the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012.” According to the press release, the bill is the Senate companion to H. R. 822, which was approved by the U. S. House last November by a vote of 272-154.

S. 2188, like H.R. 822, would allow any person with a valid state-issued concealed firearm permit to carry a concealed handgun in any other state that issues concealed firearm permits, or that does not prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms for lawful purposes. A state’s laws governing where concealed handguns may be carried would apply within its borders.

Today 49 states either issue carry permits or otherwise authorize law-abiding people to carry firearms outside the home for self-defense. 41 states have fair “shall issue” permit systems that allow any law-abiding person to get a permit.

In contrast to dire predictions from anti-gun groups, Right-to-Carry laws have been enormously successful. Interstate reciprocity will serve as a fundamental protection of the right to self-defense by providing people with the ability to protect themselves not only in their home states, but anywhere they travel where carry concealed carry is legal.

Contrary to the false claims of some, these bills would not create federal gun registration or gun owner licensing, nor would they allow any federal agency to establish a federal standard for a carry permit or impose gun control restrictions of any kind.

These bills would have no effect on permitless carry laws, currently on the books in Arizona, Alaska, Wyoming and Vermont, that allow concealed carry without a permit. In addition, Vermont residents would be able to take advantage of S. 2188 and H.R. 822 by obtaining a permit from one of the many states that offer non-resident permits.

Meanwhile, HumanEvents.com is reporting that another bill to protect concealed carry permit holders, sponsored by Sen. John R. Thune (R-SD) and Sen. David B. Vitter (R-LA), has been introduced with strong Republican support in the Senate.

Hunting Heritage Trust/NSSF® Study: Youth Who Hunt and Shoot Can Positively Influence Peers

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The more familiar youth are with individuals their own age who hunt and target shoot, the more likely they will be to support and participate in these activities.

This key finding and others come from a major new research project commissioned by the Hunting Heritage Trust and National Shooting Sports Foundation® to determine the impact of peer influence on youth participation in hunting and the shooting sports.

Results from the project were presented at the 77th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference this week in Atlanta.

“This study shows us that today’s youth that hunt and target shoot are important role models to other youth that have yet to participate in these activities. What they say about hunting and shooting and how they conduct themselves reflect on those activities and can have an effect on whether their peers will participate in them,” said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF’s director of industry research and analysis.

“The findings of this report are helping us better understand the impact of youth peer influence at a time when youth no longer participate in hunting and target shooting as much as they once did,” said Bob Delfay, president of the Hunting Heritage Trust. “The study is timely because we see that many opportunities exist to positively affect youth attitudes toward the shooting sports.”

DeWine says 2012 is final year as Ohio Republican Party chair; Will anti-gun Betty Montgomery take his place?

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Chad D. Baus

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that Kevin DeWine, who was elected unanimously as chairman of the Ohio Republican Party in 2009 after receiving the endorsement of former chairman Bob Bennett, and who was re-elected unanimously in 2011, has announced he will not run for re-election at the end of his current two-year term, which ends in December.

Despite having achieved a large degree of success in electing Republicans, including John Kasich, in the 2010 mid-term elections, DeWine has failed to impress Governor Kasich, who has been openly working to oust the chairman and replace him with his own hand-picked leader.

From the article:

DeWine on Sunday emailed the 66 members of the party’s governing body, the state central committee, informing them of his decision not to run in 2013.

“Over the past year, our state central committee has become the center of a highly charged contest for the future of the Ohio Republican Party,” DeWine wrote in the email, obtained by The Plain Dealer. “I believe that in order to ensure victory for 2012 this family fight must end now. To accomplish that goal, I intend to lead by example.

“Those who want to see new leadership in this party will have their chance, as I will not run for another term as your chairman in January of 2013.”

According to the article, Bennett failed to support his own endorsee in this fight, telling The Plain Dealer he supports Kasich as head of the party, who “in effect holds a veto over the chair.” However, Bennett did say he doubts Kasich will get his wish to have DeWine gone before December.

“I think Kevin has a lot of support on the committee and I don’t think the votes would be there to remove him, nor do I think there’s a reason to,” he is quoted as saying.

The leadership of the party is an important issue for Ohio gun owners, whose efforts to improve the state’s gun laws have, at many times in the past, been hampered by certain “moderate” Republicans who, despite their opposition to what was supposedly a key or “plank” issue for the GOP, continued to enjoy the support of the state party.

As such, no matter where gun owners fall on the current fight between DeWine and Kasich, one thing they will all agree on is that the next chairman should not be someone with an anti-gun record.

But if the party rumor mill is to be believed, that is exactly what may be in store for the party.

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