Irate property owner arrested after firing shotgun at Ohio concealed handgun licenseholder

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

Dayton’s CBS affiliate, WHIO TV, reported recently that a property owner fired a shotgun at a man and his son after they accidentally drove on the edge of his lawn.

From the article:

Max Lawson and his 16-year-old, Mentee, were out collecting used toys. At one home, they accidentally drove onto some grass near the driveway.

Deputies said Dennis Neumann then came out to complain. Lawson said he repeatedly apologized to Neumann and explained why he was there.

But, Neumann eventually pulled out a shotgun and fired toward Lawson and his child. Lawson, who has a concealed carry permit, pulled out his own gun and warn Neumann that if he fired again he would shoot back.

“The Lundy List”: Three legislators who indicated they’d vote for Restaurant & Car Carry before they voted against it

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

Last month, Republican House Speaker William Batchelder made headlines when he revealed that his 59-member caucus was unable to muster the 50 votes necessary for passage. A review of our 2010 candidate surveys showed that, so long as everyone kept their word, the votes were there. However, sources in the Statehouse told us that some were considering breaking their word and voting against the bill for emotional reasons. In response, Buckeye Firearms Association, the National Rifle Association and the Ohio Liberty Council began intensive efforts to encourage their supporters to contact members of the House during the legislature’s spring break.

While we knew the names of some of the representatives who were considering flip-flopping, only one had already done so. Rep. Matt Lundy, a Democrat from Elyria, indicated on his 2010 BFA candidate survey that he would vote for the legislation in order to win a good grade and an endorsement, and then just a few months later proceeded to not only vote against it in committee, but to introduce two anti-gun amendments, including one that would have made CHL-holders’ personal information public.

On April 25, we made the decision to expose the fact that Lundy had lied on his 2010 candidate survey. We published an article on this website, issued a press release to hundreds of news outlets in Ohio, emailed thousands of pro-gun voters, and shared the facts in a newspaper advertisement published in two newspapers that cover his district. We also made sure that a copy of the ad and resulting press coverage, including an editorial by the Lorain Morning-Journal, entitled “Lundy’s duplicity over endorsement should be a concern to voters,” was on the desk of every State Representative when they returned from spring break. We also provided a letter which dispelled the myths and provided them the simple facts about this bill.

Little more than a week after the letter was distributed to legislators, the bill was brought to the floor, and where it passed with a 56-40 vote, with Batchelder crediting gun groups’ efforts for picking up some votes.

Unfortunately, by casting their vote against HB45, one Republican and one Democrat have now joined Lundy on the list of people who indicated they would vote for it before they voted against it.

Editorial: “Don’t buy into the Wild West mythology”

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

During floor debate on HB45, Representative Mike Foley (D-Cleveland) Mike Foley warned about “the Wild Wild West atmosphere” he said “could and would happen” in bars if the bill was passed.

The people and groups who are predicting mayhem if these bills become law are the same that falsely predicted mayhem if HB12, HB347, SB184 and other bills we have supported passed. They were wrong then and they are wrong now. Lives have been saved because of concealed carry.

The Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune has published an excellent editorial in support of passage of Restaurant Carry legislation in Ohio, entitled “Don’t buy into the Wild West mythology”

House Speaker says Restaurant Carry bill could be sent to Governor next week, and that Kasich has assured him he will sign it

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

Batchelder credits pro-gun groups for winning over some opponents

by Chad D. Baus

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that House Speaker Bill Batchelder has received assurance from Governor Kasich that Ohio’s Restaurant Carry legislation will get signed.

From the article:

“We visited about it,” Batchelder said. “Absent something drastically changing, I don’t know what that would be, the language is clear. There really is no problem there. I would expect the governor to sign it.”

In addition, Kasich’s spokesperson confirmed to the Cincinnati Enquirer that the governor will likely sign the bill:

Whichever bill clears the Ohio General Assembly first is expected to be signed into law by Gov. John Kasich, according to his spokesman. The legislation also relaxes limits on carrying guns in cars.

Kasich, a Republican, is a gun owner.

“While we are interested in seeing what the final version of the bill looks like, he has said in the past that he is supportive of the concept,” Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said.

The state Senate approved a virtually identical bill last month. Whichever bill clears the Ohio General Assembly first will then be sent to the governor.

Batchelder is quoted by The Plain Dealer as saying he would speak to Republican Senate President Tom Niehaus on how to proceed. He told both The Plain Dealer and the Dayton Daily News that one of the bills should move next week.

Ohio House passes HB45 (Restaurant & Car Carry Rules Fix) and HB54 (Restoration of Rights)

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

Editor’s Note: This story was updated as information became available.

By a 56 – 40 margin, the Ohio House has passed House Bill 45, sponsored by Representatives Danny Bubp (R-West Union) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) which will allow citizens who hold a valid concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry a firearm in restaurants. To do so, license holders may not consume any alcohol and must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to OpenCarry.org, 42 states (including every state that borders Ohio) allow non-drinking license holders to carry firearms in restaurants.

The bill also reduces burdensome restrictions regarding how a license holder must transport a firearm in a car. Currently, Ohio is the only state to place such complex limitations on license holders.

One month ago, the Ohio Senate passed an amended version of this legislation (SB17) by a 25-7 margin, having adding a provision to provide a way for people who were convicted of improperly transporting a firearm under the current law to receive relief if they would have been in compliance under the law as amended.

Before the bill passed, Rep. Todd McKenney (R-New Franklin) offered an amendment to strip restaurant carry from the bill. The anti-gun amendment was defeated by a 58-38 vote to table. Buckeye Firearms Association can report that McKenney answered our 2010 candidate survey just as did Rep. Matt Lundy (D), who BFA recently exposed for having lied on his 2010 candidate survey by promising to vote for the legislation in order to win a good grade and an endorsement, only to reverse course within weeks after being in office.

Other anti-gun amendments were offered by Reps. Ted Celeste (D), Mike Foley (D) (who invoked “the Wild Wild West atmosphere” he says “could and would happen” in bars, before introducing an admittedly “sarcastic” amendment), Sandra Williams (D), Tracy Heard (D) (who asked “what’s to guarantee me that any one of the members in this chamber who hold a concealed carry wouldn’t shoot me in the head?” and said she believes if the bill passes “there isn’t going to be anyone in Ohio who isn’t carrying a gun.”) and Bill Patmon (D) (who cited examples of a few CHL-holders who have broken the law as representative of what he must expect will happen here). Those amendments too were tabled or defeated – Celeste’s by a 62-34 margin, Foley’s 72-23, Williams’ 64-32, Heard’s 61-34 and Patmon’s 64-32.

Ohio’s Restaurant & Car Carry Rules Fix (HB45) and Restoration of Rights legislation (HB54) scheduled for vote in House

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Chad D. Baus

Ohio House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R) has scheduled two pieces of pro-gun legislation for a vote in the House on Wednesday afternoon, May 11.

The action comes a month after the Ohio Senate passed SB17 (Restaurant & Car Carry Rules Fix) by a 25-7 margin, and SB61 (Restoration of Rights) by a 27-5 margin, and follows weeks of intense grassroots activism by Buckeye Firearms Association, the National Rifle Association, and the Ohio Liberty Council.

Last month, Batchelder made news when he said that his 59-vote Republican caucus was unable to muster the 50 votes necessary for passage of this important pro-gun legislation. While surveys filled out by legislative candidates last year indicate there is majority support in the House, sources inside the Statehouse have said some Republican representatives have been considering going back on the promise they made to constituents in the 2010 campaign, just as Democrat Matt Lundy did when he lied on his 2010 candidate survey by promising to vote for the legislation in order to win a good grade and an endorsement, only to reverse course within weeks after being in office.

Buckeye Firearms Association has been pressing for a vote, so that, as BFA’s Linda Walker recently told the Ohio News Network, “if it doesn’t pass, we’ll know which representative[s] will not get our support next year with endorsements.”

Click here to view the action on the House floor beginning at 1:30pm on Wednesday, May 11.

Contact your Representative TODAY and say you expect a YES vote for HB45 (Restaurant Carry) and HB54 (Restoration of Rights).

CLICK HERE to go to our Action Center.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns – A Reality Check

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Philip Van Cleave

I have been doing a bit of research on [New York City Mayor Michael] Bloomberg’s group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

They claim a membership of 593 mayors. Of these, 399 (over 67%!) are in only four states – New Jersey (40), New York (108), Ohio (71) and Pennsylvania(180). If you throw in California (21) and Florida (36), they account for 456 (over 76%) of their alleged membership.

There are approximately 8,291 mayors, nationally, of localities with over 30,000 citizens. Even disregarding the fact that a fair number of Bloomberg’s group are not even included in that count, due to small constituencies, this means that fewer than 7.2% of the nation’s mayors agree with his goals and methods enough to allow themselves to be counted among his supporters.

The vast majority of states, 37, or 74% (see table below) could produce only 5 or fewer members, from the many hundreds of mayors in each state. In fact, they could not persuade a SINGLE mayor in 12 states to join in their conspiracy to subvert the Constitution (see table below).

Karen Stewart-Linkhart appointed to Ohio Wildlife Council

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Larry S. Moore

Those familiar with the Ohio Wildlife Council, conservation issues or trapping will likely recognized the name Karen Stewart-Linkhart. She has previously served two terms on the council from 1999 until 2007. After serving on the council, Stewart-Linkhart remained active and attended most of the meetings representing either the Ohio State Trappers or the National Trapping Association.

The Ohio Wildlife Council is a volunteer appointment. The council meets eight times per year. Council membership is specified in Ohio Revised Code requiring eight members with no more than four members of the same political party. This ensures a bi-partisan council. Additionally at least two member must be actively involved with agriculture. Appointments are made by the Governor and must be confirmed by the Ohio Senate. Council members have strong ties to their communities and to the sportsmen organizations in that area. The Ohio Wildlife Council reviews and approves the recommendations regarding hunting, fishing and trapping regulations as proposed by the Division of Wildlife.

Stewart-Linkhart is an excellent choice for membership to the Ohio Wildlife Council. She is well-known across many sportsmen and conservation organizations for her involvement and passion for Ohio’s natural resources. She is well-known in farming, 4-H organizations and is a member of the Ohio State Trappers Association. She and husband, David, are the Directors for National and International Affairs of the National Trappers Association.

“I am very excited to be returning to the Council. This team is dedicated to the wise use of our wildlife resources in Ohio. I feel each of us brings a unique perspective resulting from our personal outdoor experiences. Additionally, the members represent the many diverse areas in Ohio.”, commented Stewart-Linkhart.

© 2002-2024 Buckeye Firearms Association