Dear Dan,
Ran across your article posted in toto on a place called The Frontier Sixshooter
Message Board. About as a nice a bunch of upstanding citizens, good family
folks, and solid contributors to the general weal as you're likely to find them.
http://disc.server.com/Indices/208184.html
Now, about the police chief issue of predicting dire and awful events should the
law pass. The same thing happened here in Ohio. Additionally, the very
politically powerful Ohio State Highway Patrol was also working extremely hard
to lobby the lawmakers. Eventually, the legislature finally told the Gov to get
with the program or be handed a resounding veto proof passage. A passage,
incidentally, that would deny ANY of the OSHP and Police Chiefs' wishes to add
riders to the bill: public political defeat, in other words.
The bill, as passed, has real ambiguities in favor of arbitrary law enforcement.
It pleases no one, but in practice is working just dandy. The real eye-opener
for the anti-CCW officials is that NONE of the disasters happened. Oddly enough,
that's just what has happened in the other states with recent CCW legislation.
Some of the officials, including police chiefs, when interviewed by assorted
media types upon the first anniversary of the law even admitted that it hasn't
been anything like they expected.
None of the predicted mayhem happened. In fact, they noted that CCW carriers are
notoriously law abiding. This sort of info is all a matter of public record in
prior passages of such laws in CCW states. A good journalist or policy
researcher could turn up this evidence in redundant quantities.
So, in fact, why has this not been done? If it has been done, why are these
police officials so obviously unaware of it? I would think that there might be a
story regarding this process and the conclusions that are being promulgated by
these LEO officials.
Should you be interested, I can place you in contact with Ohio CCW activists who
would be happy to refer you to sources germane to the question. As well, here
are a few resources you might find useful:
The first one is designed especially to answer media questions. There is a
request that you review their FAQ, and then proceed to contact them directly for
specific items which you wish to address. You will find that answers to many of
issues raised by your local gendarmes were and presently are being
satisfactorily implemented.
http://www.ohioccw.org/modules.php?name=ContactOFCC&destination=media
This one is specifically for the media and scholars. You will find a very
comprehensive compendium of research here, by real scholars -- that is, by folks
who are not primarily paid flacks for sectarian points of view.
http://gunscholar.com/
This last one, I have always found interesting. In my years of dealing with the
politics of Self Defense and Gun Ownership, it has struck me, time and time
again in articles, interviews, debates, and face to face argument/discussions
with the antigun factions that there was...well..something amiss. The passions
and hates and vituperation and manipulation of facts [which I knew from research
and experience to be the opposite of what was being espoused] just didn't add
up. Perhaps this is one insight worth reviewing.
http://www.jpfo.org/ragingagainstselfdefense.htm
Also, one last more or less philosophical thought. Much of what I hear from
urban police chiefs is fear. And in that fear, I hear the echoes of their loss
of the monopoly of force, accorded to the uniform and title of folks who
consider themselves to be that teeny-tiny little bit superior to the common man.
As well, the Chiefs' political bosses also often reflect that will to the
accrual of power. Daly's Chicago is a classic -- and virulently antigun
illustration, if I may. Just waxin' philosophical there, so please excuse me if
it seems a bit sophomoric to a seasoned journalist.
Best Regards,
John Meeker
The West End of Lake Erie
Permission granted to quote me, tho not to publish the Frontier Sixgunner
website. That is for your use as a reporter, and confidential, as they are good
people and don't need assorted 'Netcrazoid hatemongers cluttering up their
'living room'. ;~`)
