CINCINNATI, OHIO (Tuesday, July 18, 2000) - Judge Robert Ruehlman today issued a restraining order against enforcement of Ohio's law banning concealed carry of firearms as well as the law banning loaded firearms in a motor vehicle. The order affects the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Backers of the legal action are very pleased.

"These laws are in clear violation of both Ohio and U.S. Constitutions and were ripe for challenges after the Pat Feely decision," proclaimed Alan Gottlieb, Founder of the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF). "We saw a huge opportunity to advance the rights of self-defense and took advantage of it."
In addition to blocking enforcement of R.C. 2923.12 (banning concealed carry) the Judge included R.C. 2923.16, (loaded gun in a motor vehicle). The restraining order will be in place until after the preliminary injunction hearing beginning August 11, 2000.
Until that time, law-abiding adult residents of Cincinnati and Hamilton County can legally carry a loaded firearm on their person or in their car without risk of arrest or prosecution PROVIDED that they do not violate other laws prohibiting possession in bars, schools, or other specified places. The law preventing felons and other disqualified from possessing guns, R.C. 2923.13, is also still in effect.

The restraining order makes Hamilton County unique. The only state with a similar carry law is Vermont, where any law-abiding adult can carry a gun if they have a driver's license or some other form of photo identification. Including Vermont, 43 states allow the lawful concealed carry of firearms. Only 7 states, including Ohio, deny the individual's right of self-defense outside one's home or fixed place of business.

The complaint called the current scheme a violation of both the Ohio Constitutions (Article 1, Section 1 [inalienable rights to defending life, liberty and property] & Article 1, Section 4 [bear arms for defense and security]) and the U.S. Constitution (Second Amendment [keep & bear arms], Ninth Amendment [self-defense], and Fourteenth Amendment [Equal Protection, Incorporation of Bill of Rights to the States]). But Judge Robert Ruehlman found yet another problem under current law.

"The judge made it clear that the current law treats people as guilty until proven innocent," said attorney William Gustavson. "If this order is upheld, the burden of proof will switch to the Government to show why the person should not be allowed to carry a firearm for self-defense."

In a recent case against a pizza delivery driver, both the prosecutor and the judge stated that the law should be changed or repealed. The defendant, Pat Feely, was known to carry large sums of cash in bad neighborhoods as part of his employment. He was acquitted at trial, but could have faced the same charges if found carrying a concealed firearm again unless the restraining order was issued. Such unfairness opened the door for throwing the unconstitutional law out.

"For years, Gov. Bob Taft and the anti-self-defense crowd have blocked reasonable standards for issuing concealed carry licenses," stated Dave LaCourse, SAF Public Affairs Director. "Now they have their wish, and Hamilton County allows law-abiding people to carry of firearms without a license. I hope this decision sends a message to them that the Ohio and U.S. Constitutions are still valid and binding."

The Second Amendment Foundation is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the gun control debate and its consequences. SAF previously has funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles, New Haven, CT, and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners. Current projects include a damage action lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers, an amicus brief in support of the Emerson case holding that the Second Amendment is an individual right and a lawsuit against the Clinton gun and magazine ban.

SAF's web site is at http://www.saf.org/

The Paul Revere Network - http://www.PaulRevere.org