BELLEVUE, WA – Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri should apologize and walk back his unconscionable remarks about how legally-armed citizens would be “thrown down on the ground with a gun pointed at them” at a crime scene, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

“We are simply astonished at the abrasive attitude reflected by Sheriff Gualtieri’s comments,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “The sheriff has opposed open carry legislation, which the Florida Police Chiefs Association supports, but threatening lawfully-armed private citizens with physical abuse because they might have the misfortune to end up in the middle of an armed robbery or some other felony crime is unconscionable.

“If this guy can’t tell the difference between an armed law-abiding citizen and some criminal,” he added, “maybe he ought to pursue a different career. We know of hundreds of lawmen and women who have encountered armed citizens at crime scenes, and this is the first time we’ve ever heard of a sheriff whose first thought is to throw someone to the ground at gunpoint.”

Sheriff Gualtieri was quoted by the News Service of Florida yesterday, asserting that if an officer arrives at a crime scene and encounters an armed citizen, “At a minimum, they’re going to be thrown down on the ground with a gun pointed at them – or worse.” Read more

COLUMBUS, OH – Sub. HB 48, sponsored by Ron Maag (R-Lebanon), passed the Ohio House of Representatives today with a 63-25 vote. The bill is now headed to the Senate for further consideration.

HB 48 makes several critical changes to Ohio firearms laws.

Currently it is against the law to possess a firearm on school property. There is an exemption for Concealed Handgun License (CHL) holders “immediately in the process of picking up or dropping off a child,” provided the license-holder remains in the vehicle. But drop off a spouse (not a “child”) for work, or your kids lunch/medicine/science project, and parents are subject to felony penalties. Parents with a CHL are prohibited from leaving the vehicle as may be required to sign a child out of the office or nurses’ station.

HB 48 would fix this by simply stating that the gun, as opposed to the license-holder, must remain in the vehicle. It fixes a problem with which license-holders, schools, law enforcement and prosecutors have had issues. Such a simple and commonsense fix should enjoy unanimous support. Read more

COLUMBUS, OH – Substitute House Bill 48 sponsored by Ron Maag (R-Lebanon), is scheduled for a vote by the full House on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

The bill, which passed out of the House State Government Committee back in June by a 9-2 vote, seeks to restore Ohioans’ right to carry in day care facilities (unless they post “no-guns”), private airplanes, school safety zones, and in non-secure areas of police stations and airports.

The substitute bill also contains “opt-in” language which would to allow authorities governing college campuses and certain government buildings the ability to allow concealed carry. Read more