From: Lawrence.V.Cipriani@att.com To: chan@shell.portal.com Date: Sun, 29 Oct 95 07:38:31 EST Subject: PROponent Newsletter - November 1995 The PROponent Peoples Rights Organization 3953 Indianola Ave Columbus, OH 43214 (614) 268-0122 Volume 7 November, 1995 Number 11 [headline] VOTE! YOUR VOTE COUNTS... PRO cannot endorse candidates in an election due to our tax status as a nonprofit organization. However, PRO can keep you informed about candidates. PRO has provided some of the voting record information on some of the candidates for your information. But, the actual endorsed candidates have been chosen by our political action committee, Citizens Against Crime and the endorsements are theirs and not PRO's. In 1989, our Columbus City Council banned certain firearms, causing the Ohio Gun Collectors Association to leave town for Lake Erie's shores. This action also cost the city of Columbus $20 million dollars a year in convention monies. The only remaining members of the 1989 council are John Kennedy and Maury Portman. Kennedy is now council president. The 1989 gun ban will be listed as number 1. The 1994 gun ban will be listed as number 2. It banned all semi-automatic rifles that could accept a detachable magazine of over 20 rounds plus various shotguns. The 1995 city ordinance to ban car repairs in your yard was instituted by Mayor Greg Lashutka and passed by council. It was meant to help reinforce zoning laws in Columbus. It will be number 3. Number 4 refers to Lisa Griffin's anti-graffiti ordinance. Griffin was appointed to replace the departed Cindy Lazarus. She has to stand for election for the unexpired term due to recent city charter changes. This ordinance bans the sale of spray paint and magic markers to minors in an effort to stop graffiti in Columbus. Another Griffin sponsored piece of legislation was a resolution opposing SB 68, the concealed Carry bill working its way through the house. She also investigated the possibility of a city ordinance that would ban carrying concealed firearms within city limits if it became state law. City Attorney Ron O'Brien informed her this was not legal, and that cities could not usurp state law. This will be number 5. Following is a list of the candidates for city council and mayor. After each name will appear the numbers for that legislation in which they either voted for or endorsed. Mayor: Greg Lashutka: 2-3-4-5 Bill Moss: Candidate City Council: John Kennedy: 1-2-3-4-5 Mike Wise: Candidate Hugh DeMoss: Candidate Jennette Bradley: 2-4-5 Matt Habash: 2-3-4-5 Chris Obetz: Candidate Les Wright: 2-3-4-5 Peggy Fisher: Candidate Unexpired term Maury Portman: 1-2-3-4-5 Not running Lisa Griffin: (1)-2-3-4-5 Unexpired term Ron Coleman: 2-3-4-5 Not running The parenthesis around the number 1 after Griffin's name is due to the strong rumor that she was the main architect of the 1989 gun ban. During hearings on the proposed ordinance, she was the only one who could answer questions concerning the proposed legislation. All Kennedy could say was that he had a gun at home but he didn't know what caliber it was. In 1994 the American voter sent a loud and clear message to Washington, D.C. and the various states that they wanted change in our government. The voters said they wanted less government regulations and a fiscally responsible government. Now is the time for voters to carry the revolt into 1995. Vote out those who enact meaningless city ordinances and are not responsive to the real needs of its citizens. You, the voters, need to elect council members and a mayor who will concern themselves with running our city the way you want it and not concern themselves with state and federal issues. Do not forget that while Mayor Lashutka has tried to derail Ohio CCW, Bill Moss attended both Friends of the NRA banquets which PRO helped organize! Citizens Against Crime endorses the following candidates: Bill Moss: Mayor Peggy Fisher: Unexpired term of Cindy Lazarus. Dana Preisse: Council-person-at-large. Mike Wise: Council-person-at-large. James Green: Municipal Court Judge. In at-large races for Columbus City Council, you are allowed 4 votes for four different candidates. The top four vote-getters will win a seat on city council. You can use all four votes, or you can make your two votes count for more. It has taken several years for this editor to understand the concept behind this. If twenty people go to the polls and they all vote for the same people, the race will be a tie. If the 21st person votes for only two people, then they will receive the winning votes, while the rest lose. In effect, by not using all of your votes, you are voting twice. VOTE STATE ISSUE #1 ... This year there are several amendments to the Ohio Constitution. An amendment proposed by resolution of the General Assembly of Ohio is to amend Section 11 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Ohio. This will be Issue 1 on the ballot. It reads: "TO LIMIT THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY TO REDUCE CRIMINAL SENTENCES BY REQUIRING THE GOVERNOR TO FOLLOW REGULATIONS PRESCRIBED BY LAW WHEN GRANTING COMMUTATION TO A PERSON CONVICTED OF A CRIME. IF ADOPTED, THIS AMENDMENT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 1996." State Issue 1 will require that the Governor follow the recommendations of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority when reducing a criminal's sentence, just as when the Governor grants a pardon. The passage of Issue 1 will preclude last minute sentence reductions and will ensure that any decisions to commute a criminal's sentence are well-informed and not politically motivated actions carried out near the end of the Governor's term in office. Issue 1 will stop a repeat of the mass commutations such as those former Governor Dick Celeste granted in his last days in office. Citizens Against Crime endorses Issue 1. Please vote YES. DYNAMITE FOR OUR SIDE ... PRO's favorite renegade "liberal" Democrat Bill Buckel called and tipped us off to a dynamite Second Amendment publication. The Spring 1995 issue (volume 62, number 3) of the Tennessee Law review is a Second Amendment Symposium issue. This is the finest collection of scholarly works debunking all the standard gun-grabbing myths that we have ever seen! The article entitled "Guns and Public Health: Epidemic of Violence or Pandemic of Propaganda?" alone makes the journal worth the purchase price of $7.00. This masterpiece by Don B. Kates, Henry E. Schaffer Ph.D., John K. Lattimer M.D., George B. Murray M.D., and Edwin H. Cassem M.D. completely debunks the anti-gun propaganda promoted by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). We are talking chapter and verse here. It's an 86 page paper (almost a book!) with 368 footnotes carefully delineating the total lack of scholarship by the anti-gun medical writers. And that isn't all! We have a paper by Stephen P. Halbrook (PRO's NRA Attorney!) reviewing the discussions in Congress leading to the Gun control act of 1938. The legislators of the time made it clear that the Federal government has NO power to ban firearms, only to TAX them! Even without the protection offered by the Second Amendment Congressional lawyers conceded that Congress has no authority to register or ban firearms. This is all dynamite stuff! And there is still more in this issue! There is also a review by Clayton E. Cramer and David B. Kopel of "shall issue" concealed carry of firearms laws of various states and their effects upon crime and other factors. And that STILL isn't all the information in this issue of the Law Review! PRO normally tells you to check out books we find to be excellent on the subject of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, but this time PRO says: BUY THIS BOOK! If you ever have to argue against all the anti-gun myths, all the ammunition you will need is right here in this edition. We are talking about a pro-RKBA manual nearly an inch thick written by the big guns on our side for only $7. To Purchase Volume 62, Number 3, Spring 1995 of the Tennessee Law Review Send $7 plus shipping to: Micki Fox, Business Manager Tennessee Law Review 915 Volunteer Blvd. College of Law - Dunford Hall Knoxville, TN 37996-4070 They knew this was going to be a high demand issue so they printed many extra, but we still suggest you place your order at once so you won't be left out. DO IT NOW! BUY IT! PRO says you won't be sorry. HOW CONVENIENT... It is obvious to PRO that your run of the mill politician is quite ignorant. While most of us can put two and two together and get four, your average elected official seems to need little examples to prod him or her to action. Remember when the "assault weapon" ban legislation was pending and we had "example" after "example" of kooks using the exact firearms in the pending ban to shoot up school children and the workplace. Now that the bill is law and there is little chance of the next step after the "good first step" passing, wonder of wonders, there hasn't been an AK-47 massacre since. But Clinton-Schumer & Co. do have some pending legislation. It's the hideous "anti-terrorist" bill. And clearly your elected officials need a few more "examples" to show how important this legislation will be in combating all those right-wing anti-government (gun owning) nut cases. The latest event was the derailing of the sunset Limited train in Arizona. And it came at just the instant when Clinton's terrorist bill seemed stalled forever. Of course the note signed by the so-called "Sons of Gestapo" seemed to be in awfully pristine condition for being under a rock according to a survivor and nobody has ever heard of any group, right-wing or otherwise, of that name. But Slick didn't miss the chance to dance in the blood of victims once again to promote his totalitarian agenda for this country. It all seems just a bit too convenient to us. We have discussed the outrageous features of HR. 896 before but this time the editors of the Summer 1995 issue of The Resister have done it better than we ever could. And we quote: "House Resolution H.R. 896, The Omnibus Counter-terrorism Act of 1995, a Bill written by the FBI (only in a totalitarian state do the police make the laws), and endorsed by totalitarians Schumer and Dicks, is an irrational bit of filth that allows the president to arbitrarily decide that any given organization is terroristic, thereby permitting the suspension of constitutional constraints on law enforcement in their investigations of said organization. Given the historical precedent of lobbies and pressure groups defining political policies, it is not unthinkable that the Marxists of the Southern Poverty Law Center (by authority of Executive Order 12333 a contract investigative arm of the Department of Justice), could influence a president to declare any constitutional organization "terrorists." H.R. 896 also specifically permits ex parte [ed. one sided] trials, in camera [ed. secret] and ex parte submission of evidence, and in camera witnesses. "Proponents of H.R. 896 reply defensively that it apples only to foreign nationals. However, 8 USCS s1481(a)(9) states: '...a person who is a national of the United States whether by birth or naturalization, shall lose his nationality by--...committing any act of treason against, or attempting to force to overthrow, or bearing arms against, the United States, violating or conspiring to violate any of the provisions of section 2383 of title 18, United States Code [18 USCS s 2383], or willfully performing any act in violation of section 2385 of title 18, United States Code [18 USCS s 2385], or violating section 2384 of said title [18 USCS s 2384] by engaging in a conspiracy to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, if and when he is convicted thereof by a court martial or by a court of competent jurisdiction.' {Enacted 26 September 1961). Bear in mind, that the above specifications are determined by one man. "Consider this scenario. A communist stringer for the Southern Poverty Law Center attends a tax protest meeting. He passes his information to his FBI controller, who files his informant report. The president, under the influence of lobbyists of a Marxist front organization declares this tax protest group 'terrorists.' An ex parte trial is held, the in camera evidence collected by the communist, held by the FBI, is submitted as 'proof' of the tax protester's guilt. The tax protester is declared an alien because his beliefs are considered an '...act of treason....' H.R. 896 is then applied in full, and everyone who ever attended one of his tax protest meetings, donated to the cause, or merely supports his beliefs, is now a "terrorist" subject to asset forfeiture, arrest, detention, and deportation. (To where, we wonder, Russia?) "This is not far fetched--it is exactly what this contemptible filth written by the Department of Justice permits." PRO suggests that just as quickly as "assault rifles" became the criminal's choice for mass murder and then as quickly lost favor, you can expect to see a rise in acts of "home-grown" so-called ultra-right "terrorism" until the statists get this totalitarian monstrosity passed in some form. Hey, all those elected representatives just need a little prod into voting to give more unconstitutional authority to the federal government. PRO says, expect more "examples". GRPC REPORT ... The 1996 Gun Rights Policy Conference, held in Dallas the last weekend of September, was another smashing success. Over 450 people from all over the country attended the conference. Tanya Metaksa gave the State of the Nation address and spoke of the important issues concerning gun owners. One disturbing note was her remarks concerning Gun Owners of America, Jews for the Preservation of Firearm Ownership and other organizations disagreeing with the NRA way of doing things. PRO says, Tanya, all groups are necessary to bring about the needed changes in the various state and local governments as well as effect changes in Washington. GOA, JPFO, PRO and Ohio Constitution Defense Council(OCDC) are needed to temper the tendencies of the NRA to give away too much to the gun grabbers in order to claim a victory. Senate Bill 68 in Ohio is a prime example. (More on that later.) Marion Hammer gave an excellent speech about CCW laws and how to win on offense. She also explained executive document of the International Chiefs of Police document which is a guide to prevent the carrying of concealed firearms in various states. She also said that the Smith Amendment needs everyone's support. This amendment will stop funding for the Center for Disease Control. As you know, the CDC lobbies Congress to limit our Second Amendment rights and works hard to limit or abolish our right to carry concealed. The Smith Amendment is to HB 1488. During the luncheon, John Snyder noted that Wyatt Earp testified under oath in 1929 that Tombstone in 1881 was safer than Los Angles in 1929. Resolutions concluded the conference. Six resolutions survived the close scrutiny of the committee and were brought to the floor. A resolution sponsored by PRO and OCDC to honor the outstanding grassroots organization each year was easily passed. After the NRA, Second Amendment Foundation, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and Gun Owners of America leave town after introducing legislation, it is up to the local organizations to contact their representatives, call into the talk shows and write letters to the newspapers. PRO, Miami Valley Area for Responsible Legislation, Lorain County Firearms Defense Association, OCDC and other groups from all over the country fulfill this need. It is past time that they be recognized for their hard work in support of the Second Amendment. Shirley Spellerberg, Denton, Texas, had a resolution passed that all pro-gunners only support pro-gun candidates at all levels of government and we should support pro-gun candidates over incumbents that have betrayed us or are sitting on the fence. The Committee of 1776 had a resolution passed asking for support from all national pro-gun groups in advertising their National Rally in Washington, D.C. on August 31-Sept. 1, 1996. Mark Harger of the National Firearms Association asked that a resolution be passed encouraging each attendee of the GRPC to have 10 additional persons write or call their legislators urging the repeal of the ban on high capacity magazines on the basis that this ban does nothing to stop criminal misuse of firearms. Two resolutions were tabled. One by Alan Korwin, Bloomfield Press, that the 1995 GRPC publicly and officially call for the repeal of the discriminatory age limitation of the Militia, thus enabling all able-bodied citizens to respond to a call to preserve domestic tranquility in the event of a calamitous national disaster. The final resolution, brought forth by Linda Farmer of the National Firearms Association, created heated debate between committee members and the attendees. Farmer's resolution reads: "Be it Resolved: The attendees of the 1995 GRPC will support the presentation and passage of pro-active, pro-gun, anti-crime congressional legislation which would establish a voluntary and anonymous `1-900-GUN-CHECK' system based on the NCIC data base of stolen guns to be supported in part by user fees and which will respond to telephone inquires with a `yes' or `does not appear at this time' response." The intent behind Farmer's resolution is to thwart HCI's attempt to stop gun shows and individual sales of firearms because of the opportunity to sell stolen firearms. This would be done by calling the NCIC and giving them the make, model and serial number of a firearm that you want to buy at a show or from an individual. The NCIC computer would check "its" records to find out if the firearm had been reported stolen as of the time of the call. This would protect the purchaser of the gun, so they would not be liable for purchasing a stolen firearm. Several concerns were raised against her proposal. Setting up another hoop to jump through to purchase a firearm was one. Doing this on a voluntary basis would provide HCI and Charley Schumer with the ideal means to make it mandatory and probably more restrictive. Her resolution was tabled until next year. Farmer is a leader in the pro-gun movement and will come back next year with better arguments for her idea. Those of us that do not want this type of pro-active congressional legislation had better come up with some solid arguments against her proposal for next years GRPC. Next years GRPC will be held in Washington, D.C., at the Crystal City Marriot in Arlington, Virginia on September 27,28 and 29. It is being held in Washington because of the national elections being held in November of 1996. See you there! HOUSTON BAN ... The editors almost hate to publish this next bit of information because it may find its way to Lisa Griffin's desk and she will act upon it. On October 1, 1996, the city of Houston banned concealed guns on its buses and in its transit centers. The Metropolitan Transit Authority voted 7-1 to move ahead with the ban. Chairman Billy Burge said that its a rule..."exactly that. We hope to enforce it, and we hope citizens will respect it." Texas State Attorney General Dan Morales said "Texas' new right-to-carry law does not prevent transit systems or businesses from banning concealed handguns on their property." State Senator Jerry Patterson, sponsor of the Texas CCW, said that it is illegal to reveal a concealed handgun, so Metro could not detect properly concealed weapons. Patricia Curran, the newest director, said the rule would have to rely on "the moral force of persuasion." Patterson fired back that "criminals could regard bus riders as unarmed sitting ducks, unlike the remainder of the potentially armed Texas populace." If a metro worker noticed a gun, the holder would be asked to leave the bus or transit center or possibly face trespassing or disorderly conduct charges. Private property owners also have the right to exclude license holders from their property. They must first ask the person carrying the gun to leave. If that fails, the carrier can have criminal trespass charges filed against them and their license can be suspended of revoked. Current Texas law prohibits handguns in schools, polling places, courthouses, racetracks, bars and the secured areas of airports. The new law specifically prohibits licensed handguns in bars, organized sporting events, hospitals, nursing homes, amusement parks, places of worship and meetings of government entities. The proposed SB 68 for the state of Ohio is as restrictive as is the Texas law. S.B. 68 HEARINGS ... They have been long days for those of us that have attended the House Hearings on SB 68. Three so far, with one more on October 24, 1995. Long days. Lots of questions. Stuffy rooms. Sitting next to Fingerhut. Yech! The good part of it is that you get to meet Dr. Suzzana Gratia Hupp, Luby's Cafeteria survivor. Rebecca John Wyatt, founder of SWARM (profiled in our last issue) and survivor of two separate assaults. Christine Long Wagner, Law Enforcement Alliance of America and rape survivor. David Kopel, noted author of the Caito Independence Institute. And many others. The most supportive testimony in favor of a concealed carry law came from John M. Russi, Director of Florida's gun licensing division. "We heard all the horror stories about drivers in accidents getting out of their cars and gunning each other down, this Wild West stuff, but it just hasn't happened." And yes, Russi's travel expenses were paid by the NRA. So what. Russi also stated criminals are not going to go through the process and wait 90 days for a license, then go commit a crime. Since Florida enacted their CC in 1987, 295,220 permits have been issued. 48 have been revoked because of crimes involving a gun. 2,000 permits have been issued to out-of-state residents. At the end of his testimony, Russi was asked how Ohio could make their law better than Florida's. His reply was short and sweet. "Make it less restrictive." The next week was the turn of the anti-gun for any reason crowd. Eric Fingerhut was the most notable figure. He was addressed as representative and congressman. This editor wanted to shout out that he had been fired, but held his tongue. Strangely, the big guns were missing. Dewey Stokes. Sheriff Jim Karnes. Police chief James Jackson. Either they were tired of the drubbing they received in the Senate Hearings or they are relying on the FOP union and its threat of no support for Governor Voinovich in his senate race against John Glenn to generate the Governor's planned veto of any concealed carry law. Some of those speaking against SB 68 and guns in general were the Ohio Council of Churches, Handgun Control Federation, a representative of Cleveland Mayor M. White, the Toledo Catholic Diocese with signed petitions, the Perrysburg police chief, the Perrysburg city council, the chief of the Berlin Heights police department and Toledo resident Sharon Judy Ellis. All except Ellis gave forth with hype and what-ifs and what-fors. Fingerhut was asked for statistics to back up his statements. His reply was the same as Stokes. "They are in the office." No facts or figures to substantiate their claims against carrying a concealed firearm. The Perrysburg city council even passed a resolution similar to that of our Columbus council against SB 68. The above speakers made many references to conflict resolution instead of the law of the gun. It is very hard to resolve a conflict with a criminal intent upon rape, robbery or murder. All they listen to is superior force. Ellis spoke of the death of her young son that had just graduated from high school this past year. He was gunned down in June in a drive-by shooting. We offer our condolences to the Ellis family on their loss. But the fact is that a concealed carry law would not have contributed to the causes that killed her son. He was 18 and shot to death by another teenager. After the testimony of the above organizations and individuals, the House Judiciary Committee got a rude awakening from testimony from Sally Brodbeck, Jim Dowdell and Dennis Walker. Brodbeck attacked SB 68 as un-constitutional and a basic affront to her constitutional right to protect herself and her family. She also savaged the cost of obtaining a license under SB 68 as being cost prohibitive to those of modest or poor means. According to her calculations, the cost of a CCW would be $500.00. This includes the cost of the license, background check and 15 hours of classroom instruction. $500 is an insurmountable sum for those on fixed incomes or those that work at entry level jobs. Dowdell continued on the same vein as Brodbeck, attacking the requirements for schooling, tests and re-certification to obtain and keep a permit. PRO's Dennis Walker followed in the footsteps of Fingerhut and said that he concurred with Brodbeck and Dowdell but that he would like to address his remarks to comments made by others first. Walker said that he was a voting citizen and not a "civilian" as the Perrysburg police lieutenant termed citizens. "I live in a bad area of Columbus where you can hear the sounds of gun fire surrounding your house from spring to fall was made in response to the representative of the Ohio Council of Churches comment that none of the poor ghetto people were in attendance. "People are afraid due to the criminal justice system that lets felons and criminals out on bail, parole and shock probation. "Police officers that die in the line of duty by having their own firearm used on them, have them taken away because they are out in the open where anybody can see them. "I am a law-abiding adult and not a juvenile nor a criminal." Walker also noted, America is a melting pot of people from all over the world. You can't compare our country to that of Canada, Britain or any other. They do not have our problems of different cultures trying to merge into one country. This last comment was made in response to Fingerhut's recitation of crime figures from Seattle and Vancouver, and other countries that do not have the freedoms of Americans. Walker concluded his remarks by giving the committee over 800 signatures requesting a reasonable concealed carry bill and noting that Senate Bill 68 was not it. Representative Betty Sutton, Barberton, Ohio, had difficulty grasping the fact that there were people speaking out against SB 68 because it is to restrictive and does not allow one to fully exercise their God-given, constitutional right of self defense. If you live in the 47th District, please contact Sutton at 216-753-5329 at home, or at 614-466-6037 in Columbus. Tell her that you are in favor of a reasonable concealed carry bill. VERMONT-STYLE, HB 485... Ron Hood needs your help in bringing about hearings on his HB 485, the Vermont-style concealed carry bill that he introduced this past summer. He is starting to take a lot of heat from Judiciary Chairman Edward Kasputis about the cards that he is receiving in support of HB 485. When asked what we can do to help, Hood replied "Send more cards." So, let's send more cards to the House Judiciary Chairman Edward Kasputis. His address is: Office: Rep. Edward Kasputis Home: Edward Kasputis House Judiciary Chairman 24545 Nobottom Rd. 77 S. High St. Cleveland, Ohio 44138 Columbus, Ohio 43266 Phone (216) 891-9035 Phone (614) 466-0961 You should ask Rep. Kasputis, as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, to bring HB 485 out of sub-committee and to schedule hearings before the full Judiciary Committee as soon as possible. Just a simple post card to each address will take you just a few minutes and will help ensure a fair hearing for HB 485. GET READY FOR '96 ... On March 22-23, 1996, PRO along with OCDC is hosting a political conference in Columbus, Ohio. This is right after the primary elections and all candidates should be known at the time of the conference. The plan is to gather at least one or more representative from each and every gun and sporting club in Ohio. We intend to educate them in the ways of political action and then send them back to their clubs where they can impart some of their newly-gained wisdom to the membership in time to make a difference in the all-important '96 elections. This is a two-day event with a reception on Saturday evening and an all day conference on Sunday. Lunch will be served. The morning will deal with issues and candidates, while the afternoon will deal with strategy, coalition building and fund-raising. Every one is welcome. The cost of the conference is $20.00, and rooms at the Radisson are $69.00 per night. An organization can send a representative to the conference for $100.00 and take home much more in knowledge and information. Speakers at the conference will be Joe Tartaro, Peggy Tartaro, John Snyder and Glenn Caroline. Caroline is the Grassroots coordinator for the NRA. The Tartaro's and Snyder are with the Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Week and Women & Guns. Local speakers will include Sally Brodbeck, Chairwoman of the Ohio Constitution Defense Council. More Details later. WHY DID I GET THIS PROPONENT? Many of you are wondering why you received this newsletter in the mail. It is the PRO Election Edition that is mailed out once a year to everyone on our mailing list. One of its purposes is to remind you to go out and VOTE on November 7, 1995. If you don't vote for the legislators of your choice, don't come to PRO or the NRA and whine about why the good candidates lost. We ALL lost because you didn't exercise your voting rights to protect your Second Amendment rights. The other reason is to inform as many gun owners as we can of the Citizens Against Crime endorsements in for guidance in the upcoming election. CAC says, spread the word to your friends and fellow gun owners to vote for the endorsed candidates. GEOGRAPHY... How many of you got an A in Geography in school? In our last issue, this editor said that U.S. Representative James Trafficant was from southern Ohio. This misinformation came from Rush Limbaugh and was not verified by checking our legislative directory. Congressman Trafficant is from the 17th District and lives in Boardman, Ohio. His district covers East Liverpool, Youngstown and Niles. These cities are in the northeastern part of Ohio. The editors wish to apologize for their error in geography and thank all those who wrote us pointing out our boo-boo. FAX FOR PRYCE ... According to the American Shooting Sports Council(ASSC) Guide to the 104th Congress, we now have fax numbers for many of our Washington representatives. They are as follows: All area codes are (202). The number in parenthesis after the name is their district number. Senators: Fax Number John Glenn: 224-7983 Mike DeWine: 224-6519 Representatives: Steve Chabot (1): 225-3012 Rob Portman (2): 225-1992 Tony Hall (3): 225-6766 Michael Oxley (4): 226-1160 Paul Gillmor(5): 225-1985 Frank Cremeans(6): 225-3054 David Hobson (7): 225-1984 John Boehner(8): 225-0704 Marcy Kaptur (9): 225-7711 Marvin Hoke(10): 226-0994 Louis Stokes (11): 225-1339 John Kasich (12): NONE Sherrod Brown (13): 225-2266 Thomas Sawyer (14): 225-5278 Deborah Pryce (15): 226-0986 Ralph Regula (16): 225-3059 James Trafficant (17): 225-3719 Bob Ney (18): 225-3394 Steven LaTourette (19): 225-3307 The ASSC Congressional Guide also lists the percentages by which the incumbents won their last race. Kasich won with 62%, and Pryce won with a 68%. Pryce ran against Bill Buckel. Buckel did not believe in PAC contributions, contributions over $25.00, or in yard signs. He still garnered 32% of the vote. Kasich ran against an unknown democrat from Bexley and was able to get only 62% of the vote. These people are vulnerable in 1996. Kasich apparently does not wish to make it easy for his constituents to readily reach him so they may voice their opinions to him concerning matters that concern them. Another interesting note is that neither Kasich or Pryce has scheduled Town Meetings with concerned citizens in their districts during off times from their Washington duties. Another sign that they do not care to hear from their electorate. Newt Gingrich has scheduled three meetings in his district. As Speaker of the House, how can Gingrich find time to meet with his constituents while Pryce and Kasich ignore theirs? OHIO STATE HOUSE UPDATE ... Status of S.B. 68 (Right to Carry) & H.B. 336 (Ohio Brady Law) by: Jim Ramm (PRO Police Liaison and NRA Board member) S.B. 68 So far there have been three hearings before the House Judiciary Committee on S.B. 68 (Concealed Carry bill sponsored by Sen. Joe Vukovich). The first was sponsor only testimony, the second was proponent only and the third, which took place on Tuesday 10/17/95, was for opponents only. Thus far all three hearings have gone fairly well for the "pro-gun" side (even the opponents made us look good!). Currently, there are two more hearings planned; both on Tuesdays, 10/24/95 and 10/31/95. The 24th will be for both proponents and opponents. The 31st will be for opponents and proponents (in that order so we get the last word). A committee vote will probably take place on the 31st with a full house vote 1 to two weeks later (if it passes out of committee). Both sides of the issue feel strongly that the bill will pass both the committee and the full house. The opposition's game plan is to water the bill down as much as possible with amendments. Their primary targets are training for both applicants and instructors and introducing discretion on the part of the issuing authority, the sheriffs. I met with the legislative aide of the House Sponsor, Joy Padgett, in August and presented her with a series of amendments to the bill as it had passed the Senate. If adopted, these amendments would produce a bill which would be better than Florida's. However, there is a great deal of "Let's Make A Deal" going on behind closed doors with the Attorney General's office, the Governor's office and virtually anyone else who is opposed to the bill. This fact, coupled with the Governor's recent threat to veto the bill if it gets to his desk, is beginning to darken the outlook for the passage of a "decent" bill. I have it on good authority that if the bill becomes more restrictive than Florida's it will be "killed". You can rest assured that if that becomes the case I will be leading the charge. There has been some talk in different circles that the NRA and the ILA State and Local Rep is "selling out" to the anti's by pushing a bill which basically changes a "right" into a "privilege". The following is my opinion: since we have the right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section IV of the Ohio Constitution we already may carry concealed any time and anywhere we see fit regardless of existing law. This bill is designed to make it easier to do so, or to cut down on the hassle one might experience if they happened to be observed "carrying concealed" until the courts recognize that the current law (guilty until proven innocent) is unconstitutional. Even if the legislation passes and becomes law the current section (2923.12 ORC) will still be valid which means the "affirmative defenses" under which many people carry concealed will still be in effect. [Editors: PRO members should note that the October 10, 1995 Columbus Dispatch Op-Ed piece by Ohio Senate pro tempore President Gene Watts is very misleading. Mr. Watts who tends to be on our side, gives PRO fits from time to time on certain issues (like the Con-Con). This time he is implying that S.B. 68 removes the affirmative defense. Mr. Watts said, "First, the legislation requires for the first time in Ohio any person wishing to carry a weapon to obtain a special permit from the local sheriff's department." He then goes on to list some of the requirements in the bill TO OBTAIN A PERMIT. However, his statement that the affirmative defense no longer applies is just plain wrong. I'm sure that many anti-gunners would love to see the affirmative defense thrown out so they could once again be dancing in the blood of innocent victims, but the truth is that if the affirmative defense goes, neither PRO nor the NRA nor any other gun or rights group will support this legislation. The reason is simple. Without the affirmative defense innocent people, especially women, will die. If your ex-whatever threatens you, if you suddenly need to deliver a large sum of money, if in any sudden circumstance a "prudent man" (including women) would need protection, you don't have time to get a permit even with a "shall issue" law. For a legislative body to say that you must choose between taking a chance with your life or breaking the law would be arrogant in the extreme.] Therefore, if the law passes a person will have two options; either obtain a permit and save some hassle if someone notices that you're carrying, or just continue to carry without a permit and take the chance that someone will notice you're carrying and run the possible risk of being charged under current state law. If that happens pray that you can afford a good constitutional attorney with the guts to fight the case on 2nd amendment on Art. I, Section IV grounds. Who knows; your case might be the one that gets our state law ruled unconstitutional! You'd be famous! Remember, that's just my opinion and not legal advice. H.B. 336 (Brady Law) As most of you know, the State of Ohio has been conducting background checks pursuant to the Brady Law since last year. Former Attorney General, Lee Fisher, had decided to anoint himself the "chief law enforcement officer" and began doing the checks via a "900" telephone number to the tune of $15.00 a pop (which was obviously passed on to the buyer). He had no statutory authority to do so and the checks are still being conducted by the current A.G., Betty Montgomery, still without legal backing. H.B. 336 passed the House this spring and is currently before the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill, if enacted, would grant statutory authority to the system of background checks currently being conducted. The fee would drop to approximately $8.00 (thanks to a campaign promise made by Ms. Montgomery). I have submitted suggested amendments which would do several things. First, within six months of enactment the state would have to put in place a system to conduct these checks via telephone instantly from the point of purchase, there would be felony penalties for either failing to destroy records of an approved sale or for the establishment or maintaining of a database of purchasers. Finally, anyone possessing a valid Ohio CCW permit would be exempt from the check. I also recommended a "felon I.D." system in place of the background check. This system would cross check the database of Ohio driver's licenses and state I.D. cards against the state and federal convicted felon files as well as persons adjudicated mentally incompetent by the court system. Then, when someone renews their license or I.D. the magnetic stripe on it would be encoded with information which would show up in the form of a red light (no sale) or green light (sale OK) when passed through a reader box (similar to those used for credit card transactions) which all gun dealers would have to obtain. The beauty of this system is that all holders of Ohio driver's licenses and state I.D. cards would be checked rather than just gun purchasers. This would protect the anonymity of gun owners and make it impossible to register buyers. The main problem with this system is that it may not get us out from under the waiting period imposed by the federal law since it specifically mandates a "point of purchase" check. Everyone should make it a point to contact their state representative, the speaker of the House; Jo Ann Davidson, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee; Ed Kasputis, and Governor Voinovich and request that they enact a reasonable, workable concealed carry law in Ohio. Also, contact your state Senator and request that he or she work to enact an instant check or felon I.D. bill which maintains stiff penalties for anyone who violates the prohibitions against failing to destroy records or maintaining of a database of purchasers. *** Remember to VOTE November 7 *** ____________________________________________________________ The PROponent is published by: Peoples Rights Organization; 3953 Indianola Ave.; Columbus, OH 43214; Tel (614) 268-0122 Fax (614) 261-9100 (note new fax number!) EMAIL: 73427.1615@compuserve.com or dcarney@freenet.columbus.oh.us Back issues of the PROponent are available via the World Wide Web at: http://www.portal.com/~chan/orgs/pro/ Michael T. Regan, Chairman; Dennis Walker, Vice Chairman Todd Koehler, Secretary; Ron Herman, Treasurer Editors: Dennis Walker and Frank Jacoby Contributions, either written or financial are gladly accepted. Anyone wishing to reprint all or part of an article from the PROponent may do so. Please mention the PROponent and the issue that the article was in, and send a copy of your publication to our PRO office. (We like to know what your organization is doing too.) Also, PRO will exchange newsletters with any pro-gun, pro-rights, pro-hunting, etc. group to further grass-roots communication. Put us on your newsletter mailing list and we will put your club on ours. Unlimited electronic distribution of all or part of this text file is permitted so long PRO is credited. PRO general meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month 8:00pm at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, W. Broad St. Columbus, Ohio. 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