One less reason for not getting your concealed handgun license (SB 17)

While more and more people are open carrying (no license required), there are times when concealed carry may be a better option and obviously we need to carry in our vehicles no matter what method we carry.

One of the major stumbling blocks is the law regarding carrying inside a vehicle. Not just the fact that a gun in a vehicle is considered concealed (meaning license required) but also all the idiotic laws pertaining to carrying in a vehicle all together, even with a chl.

This has been a big reason that some people have chosen to not get a chl. To much hassle & once obtained, to much risk of still committing a crime, which can impact your record, job etc.

Thankfully with the passage SB17 which should become law soon if Mr. Kasich keeps his word, all the regulations on those who have chl's on how they carry in vehicles will  go away.  This will greatly lift the burden of trying to carry legally in your car or truck, making this legit reason go away.

The joke among many of us mocking the critics and their illogical arguments is that we will soon be able to drive down the road twirling our gun around our finger headed to the bar.

Personal note: I think having to get a chl to conceal carry is an infringement, but obviously the courts disagree and I only have so much time & money so I try to pick my battles. Therefore I chose to get a chl rather than fight a felony for CC'ing without it, but that's just me.

Meet & Greet in Miami County!!

Be sure to mark your calender for July 2nd and plan to attend a meet and greet in Miami County.

For more details be sure to visit http://miamicountyopencarry.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/meet-and-greet-july-2nd/

OH General Assembly passes SB17 & HB54

Buckeye Firearms Association who has been a vital force in defending our firearm rights posted  a very good article with links to the latest happenings here: http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/7849

Thanks to everyone who has spent many hours of hard work to get this passed.

Video : An "Open" letter to my fellow gun owners

Here is a good video on open carry, Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgj_bq5Sj0s&feature=related

Philly Police Harass, Threaten to Shoot Man Legally Carrying Gun

After the police threaten this mans life, find they can not arrest him and let him go, he later gets charged with reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct!!

Full story here WITH AUDIO:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/stossel/blog/2011/05/16/philly-police-harass-threaten-shoot-man-legally-carrying-gun?test=latestnews

PA settles with open carrier for $ 23,500

This is a good example of what needs to happen to a few cities here in Ohio.
http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?83389-The-Morning-Call-Allentown-PA-settles-with-open-carrier-for-23-500

We still need to push for our rights in Ohio

With the recent Ohio Supreme Court rulings one would think that the law abiding gun owner could go about his or her business while armed for personal protection without worry about harassment from law enforcement.

Well, still yet, that is not the case. Even with Cleveland settled, it seems there are still little pockets in Ohio where the police see open carry as a loophole and inducing panic a way to close that loophole.

Now more than ever we gun owners must be willing to step up and stand together where ever we find this type of illegal behavior from the very people who are paid to serve us.

Take the time to get involved. A good place to begin would be joining us for an OC meet and greet and get informed of what you can do & where you can find accurate  information and find TRUE second amendment gun right activists.

OC dinner @ Stacey's Buffet in Heath/Newark

Come join Licking County Open Carry Club for an open carry dinner at Stacey's Buffet on Monday May 9th at 6pm.


Stacey's has good food, plenty of parking and plenty of seating.

They are located at 833 S. 30th St. in Heath Ohio.

We always have a good time and good conversations about the latest happenings.

Playstation controller causes gun scare at admin building

Elyria Ohio: Unless there is a lot more to this story that isn't being reported this looks like more illegal behavior on the part of those sworn to protect and serve.

A man is taken to the ground at gun point by cops because they think his playstation controller is a gun?!?

Isn't carrying a gun a RIGHT. Unless there is RAS/PC the police have no business stopping a person, much less at gun point.

Story and pics here: http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2011/03/21/playstation-controller-causes-gun-scare-at-admin-building/

Hopefully he will be able to sue the police dept and the person who called the police. This stuff has to stop.

Come OC with us March 21 @ 6PM at Stacey's Buffet

Good food, good folks & good times, what more can you ask for.

What will you sacrifice for the tree of Liberty

The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. --Thomas Jefferson

Those who came before us where willing to shed blood for liberty. Today we must ask ourselves, what are we willing to sacrifice for the bigger picture. Time, energy, money, sweat, blood or tears?

For most, the answer will be "nothing". Sad.

If every American gun owner today  was willing to at minimum vote & support pro gun right groups such as the NRA and small local groups such as this one, we would not be CONSTANTLY jumping through hoops to keep and bear arms and always feeling as our "rights"  where on the brink of being taken away.

So if you value your 2A right at all, get involved.

Come OC in Licking County!

Licking County Open Carry Club is having a meet, greet, and eat, on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 17, 2011, at Stacey's Buffet in Newark/Heath. The address is 833 South 30th Street Heath, OH 43056-1207, and we'll be there from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at a minimum.


We are normally in the far left corner of the restaurant as you come in the front door. (Closer to the food)

We are an informal group of law abiding gun owners who meet semi-regularly for fellowship and food, and occasionally we get together to shoot more than the bull. Families and kids are welcome, and our only requirement is you must support OC as a right in Ohio.

Stacey's has excellent food at an affordable price, and they are very pro-gun/pro-freedom oriented. So if you're in the area, or feel like making a trip, whether you OC, CC, or simply want to start, come on over! I can assure you of a good time with good food and good folks. What more could one ask for?

Open Carry meet at Stacey's was another success

Thanks to everyone who showed up at Stacey's Buffet in Heath this past Monday.

It was nice to see openly armed men and women enjoying a good peaceful dinner.

Working to change Golden Corral in Ohio

A poster on opencarry.org had posted that Golden Corral corporate policy is to allow whatever the state allows. Some over there from different states OC there.


I explained that here in Ohio, WE COULD NOT CARRY.

So, I decided to contact them on the corporate link they have online.

PAY SPECIAL ATTN to the fact that before Mr. Sptiz e-mailed me, he had been advised from Rick Trant to talk to me and do the best he can because this issue is a delicate issue with the people in Ohio.

ONCE I TALK TO MR. SPITZ I will tell everyone how the conversation went, HOWEVER judgeing by the e-mails they plan on leaving the signs up, but we will see.....

Here is what I sent & whats happening:

To Whom it may concern, Please allow me to introduce my self, my name is Don (deleted) from Newark Ohio. I am the founder of Licking County Open Carry Club, a member of opencarry.org and NRA. It was recently posted on opencarry.org that Golden Corrals corporate policy regarding firearms is to allow whatever state law allows. In Ohio we have open and concealed carry of firearms for law abiding citizens. Upon my last visits to Golden Corral with my family in Zanesville and Reynoldsburg I had to disarm as the entry door was posted with a No Weapons sign. Can you please clarify the corporate policy for me? If the policy is to follow state law, can we expect the signs to be removed? Myself and others enjoy taking our families to your restaurants and we eagerly await your response. Thank you, Don (deleted) {Please do not post personal contact information in the open forum, please use the Private Message system-sabalo}

Here is what I received:

From:
Sent: Fri 10/15/2010 7:36 PM

To:
Subject: Regarding your Comments and Concerns about Golden Corral


Golden Corral Customer Comments
Notifcation Date: 10/15/2010 7:33:12 PM

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and comments with us. Your email has been received and forwarded to the Franchise Office over the location that you have specified. Someone will be in contact with you.

Thank you for your patience,
Lisa Parker

Now pay attn below

From: Rick Trant

Sent: Sun 10/17/2010 8:15 AM

To: Dan Spitz

Subject: FW: Regarding your Comments and Concerns about Golden Corral

Dan, did we respond to this yet?

Very delicate issue with the people in Ohio.

Explain thebest you can.

RT

So he sends this:

Mr. (Deleted by me),
I received your email below and would like the opportunity to discuss your concerns over the phone. While I do not believe we will change our policy, I would like to review them with you personally.

Dan Spitz

740-656-(deleted by me)

So, thats where we are. I left a voice mail tonite and will update after I talk to Mr. Spitz, but from his e-mail, it would seem he was advised by a higher up to walk gently, but they do not plan on making a change here in Ohio.

We shall see.....

City of Cleveland V. State of Ohio

This past Tuesday the Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments from the city of Cleveland as to why they think they should be able to enforce their own restrictions on gun owners and they also heard from the Attorney General's office on why they can not.

Now it is up to the Ohio Supreme Court to decide.

Cleveland absolutely does not want to see 9.68 be recognized as general law. If the OSC sides with Cleveland we will be back to a patch work of gun laws across Ohio.

If you would like to see the arguments, you can see the video here : http://www.ohiochannel.org/MediaLibrary/Media.aspx?fileId=127365

Stay tuned.

Making Open Carry meetings a priority

Open Carry is on the move and growing, no doubt about it. Still compared to the popularity of concealed carry and the sheer lack of knowledge by the masses that  open carry is even legal in most states, we still have a ways to go.

One thing that is happening in several states is open carry meetings. Regular citizens taking it upon themselves to host or organize events around open carry. Cookouts, picking up trash along the road, meeting at restaurants just to name a few.

These are all great and will greatly help the cause of getting more Americans to go armed, open or concealed. I had a man and his wife tell me that while open carry isn't for them, seeing me carry has prompted them to go get their concealed handgun license. This is also a win for OC.

One troubling thing I have noticed, especially when these meets are posted on various Internet forums is the response by many. What do I mean?

Often times people will post a reply to one of these announcements with something like "if I do not have anything to do on that day I will attend" or "I would love to attend but I have to .....".

I'd like to suggest making attending or hosting a meet a priority. Say "I will be there and if something else comes up, it will have to wait" or something to that effect. Or this one time I can skip my regular activity to attend.

The OC meets are a great way to meet other folks who carry and to make some lasting friendships. I have met quite a few people since I started organizing OC meets & I am proud to call several of them my friends.

They also help educate the public in a very positive way.

We  need to face it, in most states we will never be free to OC with complete confidence of not being bothered by LEO's or freaking an uninformed person until more people OC. This is what stops many people from doing it to start with.

Just something I hope to get people to think about.

Open Carry meet Mon. Oct. 18 at 6PM at Stacey's Buffet in Heath

Feel free to join members of Licking County Open Carry Club at Stacey's Buffet Monday Oct. 18th at 6PM.

We will be talking about current open carry and concealed carry issues over a good dinner and fellowship with pro 2A folks.

Hope to see you there.

Disorderly Conduct and Inducing Panic, common threats to OCers and public in general

Open carry for sure isn't the only time when you may be threatened with  IP or DC. However since this is a website about open carry we will keep it on topic.

When open carriers are being threatened with being charged or actually charged with false trumped up charges  it's usually Inducing Panic or Disorderly Conduct (think Wisconsin).

So for reference, I'm posting what the ORC actually says each one of these are. You may want to print and carry them as these seem to be used as a catch all trumped up charge when no law is actually being broken. A way to threaten citizens into submission.

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2917.11 2917.11 Disorderly conduct.

(A) No person shall recklessly cause inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to another by doing any of the following:
(1) Engaging in fighting, in threatening harm to persons or property, or in violent or turbulent behavior;
(2) Making unreasonable noise or an offensively coarse utterance, gesture, or display or communicating unwarranted and grossly abusive language to any person;
(3) Insulting, taunting, or challenging another, under circumstances in which that conduct is likely to provoke a violent response;
(4) Hindering or preventing the movement of persons on a public street, road, highway, or right-of-way, or to, from, within, or upon public or private property, so as to interfere with the rights of others, and by any act that serves no lawful and reasonable purpose of the offender;
(5) Creating a condition that is physically offensive to persons or that presents a risk of physical harm to persons or property, by any act that serves no lawful and reasonable purpose of the offender.

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2917.31  
2917.31 Inducing panic
(A) No person shall cause the evacuation of any public place, or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience or alarm, by doing any of the following:

(1) Initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime, or other catastrophe, knowing that such report or warning is false;
(2) Threatening to commit any offense of violence;
(3) Committing any offense, with reckless disregard of the likelihood that its commission will cause serious public inconvenience or alarm.

Please use the links provided to read & copy the full text of each.

Open Carry / Concealed Carry welcome at I Buy Gold in Heath

I would like to encourage anyone who either wants to sell or buy gold to stop in and see Ted & Ed at I Buy Gold.

Not only do they run a good reputable business, they are VERY carry friendly.

As freedom loving gun owners & activists we should support local businesses who also support our position.

So be sure to visit I buy Gold @ 818 Hebron Rd Heath Ohio.

Buckeye Firearms Association helps Wisconsin OCers with legal fees

In Wisconsin five people where wrongfully charged with trumped up charges for legally open carrying.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Buckeye Firearms Association had recently received money from a closing gun club and rather than keep the money they actually raised even more money to help the Wisconsin OCers.

Full story here: http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/7450

Be sure to join opencarry.org forums

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/ is a great forum and has givin each state its own space. Please be sure to become a member and spread the word!

Thank you.

The benefits of joining Licking County Open Carry Club today

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Emerson

In these times open carriers are indeed creating a trail, rather than just following the path.

We at LCOCC have no real ambition of  becoming the largest gun rights organization on the block, just an effective one for our cause. We would rather have a small group of people who actually are willing to make positive progress in the area of open carry and gun rights in general than a large group of people willing to do nothing.

Below are just some of the benefits of joining LCOCC.

1. We do not have membership dues. We are not about money.

2. Our group members are active in other gun rights organizations besides LCOCC. This is important because it keeps us up on relevant current events across Ohio and the United States.

3. It is a chance to socialize with like minded people. Even if you are on gun forums it is nice to not just be a name on a message board. We are real people with families, concerns etc. just like you.

4. We can have a positive effect on the community and also break the stereotype of gun owners.

5. We help you overcome the  fear that may stop you from OCing in the first place. We have discovered there are a lot of people wanting to OC but quite frankly are afraid to do it. Many fear a negative reaction from the local police. Our members have done plenty to let the local law enforcement know that not only that OC is legal, but any harassment will literally be under the microscope of thousands in the 2A activist community and as a group we will not stand for our rights being trampled.

If you would like more info, drop us a line and a good time to contact you.

Businesses in Newark Ohio and throughout Licking county that are anti carry

I will be listing some of  them here, but I am leaving the comments section open. Please list any business that is anti carry.

They have the right to ban guns & we have the right to take our money elsewhere. You may tell your story, list names addresses or whatever. Thanks, Don.

How to handle police encounters while open carrying

When you open carry a lot, you run the risk of an encounter with a cops. This does not necessarily have to be a bad thing & believe it or not, there are pro 2A cops out there, however when it comes to OC, they seem to be far & few in between and a lot of cops simply are against it.

If you encounter the police, the goal is simply to get on with your business without being victimized.

You need to decide ahead of time how you will handle yourself in an encounter, especially when the cop is fishing for something to charge you with. Are you simply going to say yes Sir a lot, fork over your ID without protesting & allow them to frisk you and risk getting charged with something, or are you going to exercise your rights? Now is the time to decide.

I can tell you from first hand experience, talking to cops I know and reading several web forums, comments to the police like "I know my rights" instantly angers them and they take it as a challenge. While there are many good guys in uniform out there, the job by its very nature seem to attract guys who are on a power trip, so you don't want to challenge their egos, but at the same time you want to assert your rights as a citizen of this great country.

First rule (I learned the hard way) is be nice, never physically resist and do not argue even if the officer is being rude or is totally ignorant about Ohio gun laws. Our laws are complex and we gun carriers spend a lot of time going over the finer details of the law and many of us are more informed than the local police, so keep this in mind. This is not a slam on the police, just a fact. Our goal is not to try to make the cops look stupid nor bait them for a civil rights violation.

When approached, rather than answer their questions, ask your own, simply say something to the effect of " Am I free to go, or am I being detained?" If he says you are not being detained, leave. Remember, the police is not your friend, their only interest in stopping you is to find something to charge you with. You may be stopped for OCing only to be charged with something else.

Second, when asked for an ID, do not automatically hand it over. There is no law that says you are required to carry an actual ID card unless you are CCing & we are talking about OCing, and actually you only have to ID yourself if the police actually have RAS ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reasonable_suspicion ) to begin with for stopping you, which they will always claim they do, so just tell them your name & address then ask for a lawyer and shut up. Under the threat of arrest as I once was for not producing an ID card, it's a personal call. Looking back, I wish I would have let them arrest me out of principal.

If they do a pat down, say "I do not consent to searches". This may help later IF you are arrested or charged with something. Your lawyer can help with this later.

More than likely you will be allowed to go after they have taken up some of your time and chewed you out a bit. Actual arrests while they do happen, are rare.

I suggest spending time on http://flexyourrights.org/ and learn as much as you can about the 4A. It is very important.

Also carry some form of digital recorder. This is critical. That way it is not your word againt the cops later. Do this even if you do not even carry a gun if you even think you may have a police encounter.

Again, be nice, but stand firm on your rights, they are what separates us from the rest of the world. Again, the goal is to simply go about your lawful business, and educate the public about open carry, not argue with the police.

Do police need open carry education or just to lose the tude?

Generally speaking are the police simply uninformed on the issue of open carry and the legalities, or do they simply believe they are the only ones who should be allowed to open carry (or carry at all as far as that goes) and not us "subjects"?

Both, but mainly they just need to lose the attitude.

I recently ran across this thread at http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?151846-Open-Carry-FAIL on officer.com and it came as no surprise that many of these LEO where not only against open carry but downright hostile toward it. Unfortunately many cops have an "us against them mentality" and spend their time trampling our rights rather than defending them.

I believe the only thing that is going to overcome this is simply more people open carry in their daily routine. Not only will this normalize open carry in the eyes of the sheeple, but as more people do it, the police harassment will be exposed for what it simply is, and will cease. I am going to be posting on how to protect yourself from the police.

So is it an education thing or an attitude thing? Perhaps both, but there is no doubt that many police are anti open carry which means they are an enemy of freedom, our enemies, enemies of the very people they are paid to protect & serve. This will change as more and more people open carry.

Open Carry Meet At Stacey's Homestyle Buffet Sat. 9/18 8:30AM

We will be meeting at Stacy's Homestyle Buffet Sat. morning for breakfast.

The have great food and a very nice clean environment.

Stacy's is located at 833 South 30th St. in Heath.

ORC 9.68 Right To Bear Arms

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/gp9.68  Snip:

9.68 Right to bear arms - challenge to law.


(A) The individual right to keep and bear arms, being a fundamental individual right that predates the United States Constitution and Ohio Constitution, and being a constitutionally protected right in every part of Ohio, the general assembly finds the need to provide uniform laws throughout the state regulating the ownership, possession, purchase, other acquisition, transport, storage, carrying, sale, or other transfer of firearms, their components, and their ammunition. Except as specifically provided by the United States Constitution, Ohio Constitution, state law, or federal law, a person, without further license, permission, restriction, delay, or process, may own, possess, purchase, sell, transfer, transport, store, or keep any firearm, part of a firearm, its components, and its ammunition.

(B) In addition to any other relief provided, the court shall award costs and reasonable attorney fees to any person, group, or entity that prevails in a challenge to an ordinance, rule, or regulation as being in conflict with this section.

(C) As used in this section:

(1) The possession, transporting, or carrying of firearms, their components, or their ammunition include, but are not limited to, the possession, transporting, or carrying, openly or concealed on a person’s person or concealed ready at hand, of firearms, their components, or their ammunition.

Open Carry Meet at Pataskala Municipal Park Aug. 9th at 6:30

The park is located at the intersection of Mill St. Creek Rd. & Township Rd.

Chuck will be grilling burgers and hot dogs, my wife will be bringing the potato salad.

Bring a dish and join us!

Our July Open Carry Meet was a success

On Monday July 12th we had an OC meet on the East side of Newark.

After we made some new friends we took a walk and circles our county corthouse and stopped for pictures.

I will be posting more about this meet tomarrow, the pic was taken on the Licking County Courthouse steps.

Newark man in critical condition after accidentally shooting self in head

The full story can be read in the link provided below, but we wish this man a speedy recovery and our thoughts & prayers are with him and his family.

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20100704/NEWS01/7040318/Newark-man-in-critical-condition-after-accidentally-shooting-self-in-head

Two people illegally detained in Newark Ohio for open carrying

On March 15th 2010 I held my first open carry meet on the east side of Newark Ohio. We had about a dozen people turn out, which for a first time meet I thought was pretty good. We had a few from all age ranges including a retired military man who was the life of the party.

We talked about fishing, grand kids etc. over chicken sandwiches & pop. As we where closing our meet, my son (age 21) and his girlfriend left the building heading to their car. That is when the Newark police swarmed in, put him in cuffs up against his car, took his gun and demanded ID.

When I approached the scene I was lead to the middle of the street, gun taken and threatened with jail by officer Fleming if I didn't produce an ID. Obviously he has no respect for our rights or he doesn't know the law in this area as he told me he can demand ID from anyone anytime and if they refuse he can arrest them, which is total BS.

Luckily some of the people attending had video phones and began recording this assault on our civil rights. I admit I should have remained more calm, but the whole scene was uncalled for and planted the seed for the birth of  Licking County Open Carry Club.

Here is a few minutes of the ugly showdown:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9uq5mMRG6A

Open carry guns in Ohio

Here is a youtube video I made in a city park in Newark Ohio before they brought their law up to date with ORC 9.68.

I shot this on a whim and had two ladies with children patiently waiting for me to finish so they could have the shelter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-PN9M6AbUI