WJW FOX 8 Cleveland is reporting that another Ohio concealed handgun license-holder was able to defend herself and others when confronted by a violent attacker, and the events were recorded security cameras.
Landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision: Second Amendment applies to states and cities
Buckeye Firearms Association is thrilled that the United States Supreme Court has ruled to strike down the ban on private ownership of firearms in Chicago. Today, in a 5 to 4 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment applies to states and cities. The decision is a result of a case brought by Otis McDonald (and others) against the city of Chicago. Leaving no room for doubt, the court made clear that the Second Amendment applies to Mayor Daley and Chicago.
“While there is much work to be done, this decision is the first critical step towards universal self-defense rights,” said Jim Irvine, President of Buckeye Firearms Foundation. Buckeye Firearms Foundation teamed up with the United States Concealed Carry Association to file an amicus brief in support of Mr. McDonald.
Irvine summarized the importance as follows: “The members of the United States Concealed Carry Association and the supporters of Buckeye Firearms Foundation travel regularly, and a robust Second Amendment applied against all cities and states is needed to insure that the right to self-defense travels with these people, the same as all their other rights. Finally, the Second Amendment is afforded equal dignity with the other constitutional rights we enjoy.”
The Court’s decision is being welcomed as a day of liberation for the law-abiding citizens of Chicago. After years of being held hostage to the murder and mayhem that has plagued the city without a means of self-defense, Chicagoans can finally exercise their right to bear arms and defend their home against the common thugs that used to act with impunity.
Report: Ohio Democratic Party unsuccessfully tries to get concealed carry license records
by Chad D. Baus
The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Ohio Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully last week to get confidential information on all people licensed to carry concealed handguns in the Buckeye State.
Op-Ed: In debate over gun-carry laws, critics are quick to shoot down the facts
by John Lott
People walking the streets armed with guns must be dangerous, right? A newly revised study by the Brady Campaign and the Violence Policy Center found that even those individuals who have legally obtained permits to carry concealed handguns are extremely dangerous. With millions of Americans already having been issued such permits from the various states, this is an important issue.
The gun control organizations have frequently made these claims in the press, and Dennis Henigan, the vice president of the Brady Campaign, will likely make these claims again when he and I appear on John Stossel’s FoxBusiness show today. But the gun control advocates inaccurately describe many shooting cases, choosing to ignore that the majority of incidents involve people properly defending themselves.
SCOTUS – Chicago decision release delayed
Today the Supreme Court of the United States released opinions in seven pending cases, leaving only four opinions unannounced. One of those opinions is in the Chicago gun rights case. The Chief Justice also announced the last day of the term will be Monday, June 28 so this means the Chicago decision will be announced in just a few days.
Please check our website on Monday for additional announcements and analysis of the decision.
Ohio Editorial Boards Continue Their Love Affair With The Gun Lobby Bogeyman
Bogeyman – noun: a monstrous imaginary figure used in threatening children Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
by Ken Hanson, Esq.
It’s been three weeks since Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Thomas Suddes flexed the hive mind of Ohio’s newspaper editorial boards, and now two additional columnists are group think-fantasizing about the Gun Lobby Bogeyman. In another exercise of editorial denial, The Toledo Blade‘s knee-jerk, anti-gun Marilou Johanek accuses Ohio Governor Ted Strickland of “caving in to the NRA.” Once again the usual suspect is the Gun Lobby Bogeyman, equipped with piles of cash and Jedi mind tricks, traveling the country to thwart the beliefs of the common sense majority in order to advance the radical cause of the gun nut minority.
Note to Johanek: Your more scrupulous colleagues have begun to do their own, original research BEFORE writing their articles, and they can objectively report that campaign contributions coming from gun groups are a drop in the bucket. But I know how hard it is to do quality work in the face of losing a cherished loved one unexpectedly, though it is hard for me to determine if you are in stage one (denial) or stage two (anger) of grieving for the mortally wounded Gun Lobby Bogeyman.
NRA and Freedom of Speech
UPDATE – Editor’s Note: The NRA’s response to the issues raised in this piece has been included below.
by Jeff Knox
A firestorm was ignited this week when it was announced that House Democrats had carved out an exemption for the National Rifle Association in proposed new federal campaign law legislation and that NRA was no longer going to oppose the bill.
The new campaign legislation is a response to the recent Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. The Federal Election Commission. In that case the Court held that groups like NRA could not be blocked from mentioning a candidate’s name during the 60 days prior to an election. The proposed legislation – which is still only available in synopsis form – would tightly regulate the political speech of any corporation (most non-profits and political organizations are corporations) and require extensive recordkeeping and public disclosure of contributors names. Such disclosure is particularly hard on gun rights organizations as our members tend to be vehemently opposed to having their names put on lists – particularly lists identifying them as likely gun owners.
NRA has long been a leader in defense of constitutionally protected political speech and they had stepped up in opposition to this latest threat. Unfortunately, rather than stand strong on principle of liberty and the rule of the Constitution, NRA suggested to the bill’s sponsors that as long as the proposed legislation did not apply to NRA, the association would withdraw their opposition. Good for NRA, but bad for every other group and the Constitution.
The Biennial Meeting Of States, And The Arms Trade Treaty
Two major meetings, possibly affecting American gun owners’ rights, will occur at the United Nations (UN) in New York over the next several weeks. They are the Fourth Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms in all its Aspects, (“BMS4”) June 14-18, and the Arms Trade Treaty Preparatory Committee (“ATT Prep. Com.”) July 12-23. The NRA will be fully and actively involved in these meetings.
The BMS4 is a continuation of the so-called “Programme of Action” (POA) adopted by the UN at a conference in 2001. Anti-gun groups saw the original POA as a vehicle for UN gun bans, registration schemes and other radical proposals. The U.S., through the efforts of Ambassador John Bolton, forced the removal of provisions targeting privately-owned firearms from the POA. It was not able to stop the POA itself, and the UN holds “Biennial” meetings every two years to keep the POA alive. Heavily-funded anti-gun groups will again attempt to get the UN and its member states to target the right to arms at the BMS4. A Mexican diplomat will chair the meeting and Mexico, which blames its crime problems on the U.S., is now pushing for more gun control in America. Anti-gun, anti-U.S. measures could well be on the table.
Open Letter to the Ohio Restaurant Association and its members regarding opposition to SB239
Editor’s Note: The following letter was written by Buckeye Firearms Region Leader Larry S. Moore and addressed to the Ohio Restaurant Association and its members.
Mr. Richard Mason
Director of Government Affairs
Ohio Restaurant Association
1525 Bethel Road, Suite 301
Columbus, OH 43220-2054
Dear Mr. Mason:
I am very pleased to see the Ohio Restaurant Association take a position regarding SB239, concealed carry in restaurants and bars. It is good know which organizations support my right to self-defense and which would deny the basic God-given rights and freedoms for law-abiding Ohioans.
As a competitive shooter, avid hunter, sportsmen and concealed carry advocate, I’ve traveled Ohio participating in various events. Often restaurants in the area will have huge signs welcoming shooters and promoting their restaurants. Such is the case around Port Clinton, Ohio with the NRA Matches at Camp Perry each year. It’s nice to know that our business is not really appreciated by your association.