What's the holdup on Ohio's pro-gun bills? Brent Larkin, Plain Dealer

[Kolesar]

Frankly, what the state really needs is more legislators like State Rep. Danny Bupp, a conservative Republican from Adams County in southwest Ohio. (Mean Jean Schmidt's replacement, btw).

On the very same day James E. Holmes allegedly shot down all those moviegoers in cold blood, Bupp took a stand. While the bodies were still warm, a letter went out in Bupp's name asking for help from his colleagues in opposing adoption of a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty designed to curb the worldwide spread of firearms -- especially to nations that violate human rights. Like Bupp, the National Rifle Association hates the treaty.

Undaunted courage is what we need from Ohio's legislators -- especially since the heat is on from the zealots who hope to use the Colorado killings to push for needless reforms. Legislators were elected to lead, not cater to the whims of swing voters whose politics reside in that wishy-washy place known as the sensible center. And the best way to lead would be for legislators to ignore the headlines from Colorado and move decisively to enact:

• House Bill 422 -- Removing the requirement that a law enforcement officer who stops a vehicle be informed there's a loaded weapon on board.
• House Bill 288 -- Permitting an emergency medical technician to carry a loaded gun.
• House Bill 256 -- Eliminating the provision that a person with a concealed-carry license actually carry the license.
• House Bill 328 -- Further limiting the public's right to know by requiring journalists to obtain a court order before being allowed to view the list of nearly 250,000 Ohioans with concealed-carry permits.
• House Bill 425 -- Allowing persons with concealed-carry licenses to store guns in their vehicles parked in state garages or surface lots.
• House Bill 495 -- Providing no-questions-asked reciprocity of a concealed-carry permit issued by another state.
• Senate Bill 61 -- Eliminating the prohibition against persons with misdemeanor drug convictions from acquiring or possessing firearms.
...
There's some dry humor in there, just sayin':

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/07/whats_the_holdup_on_pro-gun_bi.html#incart_mce

[gejohnston]

1. I thought we would agree on this one

Senate Bill 61 -- Eliminating the prohibition against persons with misdemeanor drug convictions from acquiring or possessing firearms.

seriously non violent pot possession? That kind of sounds right wing. It would be more appropriate to prohibit a violent misdemeanor like having an assault and battery or animal cruelty conviction within five years.

House Bill 328 -- Further limiting the public's right to know by requiring journalists to obtain a court order before being allowed to view the list of nearly 250,000 Ohioans with concealed-carry permits.

and individual's right to privacy about private behavior trumps public's right to know.

[Kolesar]

3. • House Bill 422 -- cops gonna like that one eom

[gejohnston]

4. I doubt cops care

but many states have CCWs linked to car tags, so the cop pretty well knows. It would be a nice thing to do anyway. From what I understand, that bill was inspired by a cop going off the deep end on a responsible citizen who informed him.

[Kolesar]

6. You're just making stuff up and posting it on the internet...eom

[PavePusher]

8. Teh Google is yer friend.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/you-fu-with-me-cop-threatens-concealed-carry-gun-owner-during-traffic-stop/

[Glaug-Eldare]

11. There's GOTTA be a better link than that!

Strange folks over there...

[gejohnston]

12. Huff Po and Rawstory?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/26/ohio-cop-curses-out-gun-owner_n_910367.html#s316288&title=Rodney_King_Beating

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/07/canton-cop-threatens-to-execute-driver-over-weapons-permit/

[HALO141]

17. The video is what it is, regardless of the link.

Jeez!

[PavePusher]

19. Sorry, I just pick the first link that has the whole story.

I don't generally waste too much time being picky about the source.

Once you get the gist of it, looking for more "approved" sources is an exercise for the student.

[Glaug-Eldare]

21. No worries!

The content is the content, but it amused me to see the Blaze linked here.

[PavePusher]

22. Everyone should have to depart their box occasionally!

[gejohnston]

10. in Canton last year

the dash cam landed up on Youtube

[HALO141]

16. Last I heard the charges were dropped.

And the cop was facing some sort of disciplinary action. He's supposedly been diagnosed as having PTSD. Well... He was diagnosed AFTER his emotional stability was called into question as a result of his actions during this traffic stop.

I stand to be corrected but that's what I remember from looking into this months and months ago.

[Clames]

20. He was fired after the investigation.

Of course he is appealing the decision.

[GreenStormCloud]

5. You are naive if you think it matters.

Do you think a cop is going to relax if a driver tells him there is NOT a gun in the car? Hell, NO. The driver could be lying. A cop ALWAYS assumes that the driver is armed, no matter what the driver says.

If the driver does say that there is a gun in the car it should not change the officer's level of awareness.

[spin]

13. I agree as I know several local police officers in Florida ...

I have actually asked them about what they feel about legally concealed carry and I have not found one that feels that is a poor idea or endangers them in the least. I also have asked them about traffic stops. Most say they approach any car they pull over with caution and they do indeed assume that the occupants might be armed.

[PavePusher]

7. Got a link? The only one I've found has nothing to do with firearms or police.

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_HB_422

Anyway, we, the Citizens, tell police what to do. They can voice an opinion, but their job is to uphold the law, not make it, or make it up.

[HALO141]

15. If they don't already act on the assumption that there IS a weapon in the vehicle

then they're idiots.

[Travis_0004]

23. I know a cop who doesn't care if the requirement to notify goes away.

His assumption is that anybody who means no harm will notify him. Anybody who intents to harm him will not notify him.

[4th law of robotics]

14. It ought to take more than a misdemeanor to strip someone of their rights

we wouldn't support removing their right to vote over such a crime.

[GreenStormCloud]

2. Those sound like some good bills. They should pass. N/T

[mvccd1000]

9. All good bills except the last one...

... who needs potheads carrying guns?!?
















(Just a little humor, based on the strong defense of marijuana use by some of the same people who are so against the 2A.)

[HALO141]

18. If james holmes had gotten high that night

he might well have just gone to the burger joint to calm those munchies rather than the theater.