The National Rifle Association has long perpetuated the myth that Americans are under grave danger from hardened criminals who want to steal their property and exterminate their families. Whether it s ridiculous pronouncements like, America, by its free and independent nature, is a breeding ground and safe haven for violent, illegal immigrant criminal gangs, …
Continue reading "Shooting Buddies"
On July 14, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)-the Chair of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security-co-hosted a Congressional Forum with Reps. Mike Castle (R-DE), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Mike Quigley (D-IL).
It has been widely reported that President Barack Obama has been receiving an enormous number of threats during his 15 months in office-a 400% increase over the number received by President George W. Bush. Commentators have also decried the death threats received by Members of Congress who voted for health care reform in March. Less …
Continue reading "Cutthroat Politics"
Today we relate the stories of three more ordinary people who are not only concealed carry permit holders, but certified instructors paid to provide the safety and training classes required to obtain a permit in their states. If concealed carry permit holders are the most law-abiding citizens in our country, we would expect their …
Continue reading "Do as I Say, Not as I Do"
On May 24, a 56 year-old male resident of Elyria, Ohio, went to a nearby house armed with a shotgun and asked his neighbor to call 911. When police arrived, they ordered the man to put the shotgun down, but he refused, stating, I can t, I m protecting myself, I have a concealed carry …
Continue reading "Attack of the Black Dwarves"
Today s Ordinary People blog features two stories that involve curious episodes of memory loss. The first story involves a concealed carry permit holder who was shopping at a Wal-Mart in Steubenville, Ohio, on December 3. When he departed the store that day, he had his purchases in hand, but not his firearm. His …
Continue reading "Forgot Something?"
News this past weekend of a school shooting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, served to remind me of a couple of misconceptions about the nature of gun violence in our nation s school systems. As I travel around the country, I often hear people say that our nation s schools are inherently dangerous because of gun …
Continue reading "School Daze"
At 1:56 a.m. on the morning of July 13, Officer Joshua Miktarian of Twinsburg, Ohio, pulled over Ashford Thompson on suspicion of drunken driving. Dispatch tapes reveal that 90 seconds after making the stop, Officer Miktarian radioed for assistance and then failed to respond to the questions of the dispatcher and his fellow officers. During …
Continue reading "A Case of “Self-Defense”"
Marc Kidby was a 30 year-old Ohio University employee who was deeply troubled by a pending divorce. A gun owner and concealed carry permit holder, Kidby became the subject of a domestic violence protection order that was filed by his wife on February 11. At that point, Kibdy s concealed carry permit should have been …
Continue reading "Lack of Protection"