YOUNGSTOWN Rally to back firearm measure

It's up to participants whether to carry loaded guns.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Ohioans who may not know that they have a right to openly carry a firearm will see an educational demonstration this weekend downtown, an organizer says.
The event, dubbed "Youngstown Defense Walk," will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday. Participants will travel sidewalks from Front Street to Wick Avenue.
The organizer is Rick Kaleda of Hazelwood Avenue, Mahoning County coordinator of Ohioans for Concealed Carry. He said he expects between 30 and 100 men and women, some wearing holstered sidearms, to participate.
It's up to the discretion of the participants whether to carry loaded guns, he said.
Kaleda said the walk will be used to:
ULet Ohioans know that they have the right to openly carry a firearm.
UUrge citizens who want a concealed carry law to contact their legislators and request that the senate changes to House Bill 12 be removed and the bill be passed and signed by Gov. Bob Taft.
About the bill
House Bill 12 was approved earlier this year by the Ohio House and underwent several changes before being passed in the Ohio Senate. The bill now moves to a conference committee of legislators from both chambers to work out a compromise.
"We're pushing for a compromise on the bill and to highlight the fact we have the right to openly carry now without a permit or background check," Kaleda said. "We're asking for concealed carry law with background checks and training as outlined in House Bill 12."
Ohio law enforcement groups need to work out their differences on how a concealed handgun can be carried in a vehicle, according to state Rep. Jim Aslanides, a Coshocton Republican, who introduced the bill. He said provisions added by the Senate to require a permit holder to keep the gun unholstered and in plain sight in a motor vehicle is actually more dangerous that the House version, which did not include that provision.
Aslanides said the Senate provision was added to please the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He said other law enforcement agencies contend that anyone could get hold of the gun, and it would no longer be in control of the person permitted and trained to use it.
Also at issue is the ability to use an affirmative defense if carrying the gun during the permit process. Aslanides said Ohioans should be able to carry a gun while going through the permit process, which could take as long as six months.
In his parade permit application, Kaleda said Saturday's event will present a "visual choice" to the legislators and citizens. The permit was signed by Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr.
Getting the permit wasn't a problem for Kaleda, but he didn't feel he needed a permit just to assemble on sidewalks. No other city where such walks have taken place -- Youngstown is the eighth -- required it.