Date: Mon, 17 Jul 1995 11:34:38 -0400
To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com
From: gregkopp@en.com (Greg Kopp)
Subject: ANTI-CCW OHIO: Cleveland Plain Dealer Editorial

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

The Cleveland Plain Dealer - 7/17/95 - Page 8-B

Ohio's Pending Arms Race

Ohio is treading a dangerous and senseless path toward becoming a heavily
armed and even more dangerous society. In calculated pandering to Ohioans'
fear of victimization, the Senate passed a measure last week that would
allow citizens to carry concealed weapons.
The measure, now headed to the House, should be promptly rejected. If the
legislatures' intent is to create a safer, less crime-ridden environment,
we fail to see how an arms race that could literally flood the state with
new firearms will help.
Proponents of the measure point to a number of states that have recently
relaxed or rescinded their rules on carrying concealed weapons. With glee,
these proponents argue that crime rates have not increased in Florida,
Arizona or others undertaking such experiments, in spite of thousands of
new heat-packing citizens.
But a simplistic look at fluctuations in annual crime rates (which can be
influenced by scores of factors, including the weather) is not a complete
or even useful gauge of the havoc that more guns and more gun carriers
could create.
The National Rifle Association, for instance, is quick to produce studies
that show no significant increase in crime since Florida relaxed gun laws
in 1987. But these studies cannot accurately measure the numbers of
accidental shootings, near-shootings or the climate of fear created by a
gun-toting society.
Perhaps the biggest unproven argument advanced by proponents of relaxed gun
laws is the notion that an armed citizenry would in itself deter crime. No
data support that conclusion. If a widely armed society reduced crime,
Florida, which has tinkered with such laws for years, would not be one of
the most dangerous states, per capita, in the nation.
More than laws that put more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens,
laws are critically needed that reduce the violent criminal threat. The
primary job of government is to protect its citizens. Any law, however,
that encourages citizens to carry arms in public is tacit admission that
government has failed. Such failure is unacceptable. And if the state's
solution is to fight fire with fire, innocent people are likely to get
burned.

-----------------------------

I have already written a letter-to-the-editor on a previous editorial on
this subject, I'm not sure if they would accept another from me. However,
that won't stop me from writing one. What I need is some information from
the list subscribers. I believe there was a semi-recent court decision
which proved that law enforcement has NO DUTY to protect individuals, but
the community at large. Any details would be helpful. Any other arguments
from subscribers can be sent to me: gregkopp@en.com so I can compile a
factful response to the gun-fearing morons at the Plain Dealer. If you
would like to contact the plain dealer with your own comments, send them
to:

letters@plaind.com or fax 216-999-6209

Guidelines - Sign the letter with your full name. Include your address and
daytiume telephone number for verification. They edit for length and
clarity. Concise letters are more likely to be published.


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*             Greg Kopp - Garfield Heights, Ohio                 *
*  Gun Owner-Ham Radio Operator-Model Railroader-Graphic Artist  *
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