Marchers want right to conceal guns Group organizes rally to support proposed law

Pending legislation would level the playing field between the criminals and victims, one walker said.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
YOUNGSTOWN -- Carol Sell stood on Federal Plaza with a .22-caliber revolver strapped to her waist.
"I believe law-abiding citizens have the right to carry a concealed weapon to defend ourselves, especially as a woman," said Sell, 58, of Champion.
She was one of 55 participants in the Youngstown Defense Walk, organized to elicit support for state legislation that would allow Ohio residents to carry concealed firearms.
Ohio law already permits individuals to carry firearms openly, and that was one point of Saturday's march along Front and Market streets, said organizer Rick Kaleda of Hazelwood Avenue.
Kaleda is a pistol and personal protection instructor, certified by the National Rifle Association. He is also Mahoning County coordinator for Ohioans for Concealed Carry.
The Youngstown walk is one of eight being held across Ohio to draw attention to pending concealed-carry legislation, Kaleda said.
Others set
Other walks today are set for 1 p.m. in Alliance and 1:30 p.m. in Findlay.
Kaleda said his group wants people to know that they are already permitted by law to carry a firearm, as long as it is in plain view, and most of those attending the walk had side arms clearly visible.
Carrying one under a coat or in a pocket is illegal under current law. That could change with legislation pending in Columbus.
The House and Senate have passed different versions of concealed-carry bills, and a conference committee has been formed to iron out the differences, said state Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-32nd, who met the walkers on Federal Plaza.
Dann, who said he is generally supportive of concealed-carry legislation and voted for the Senate version, is a member of the conference committee. He said he wants to hear various points of view before the committee begins its work Nov. 10.
Background checks, training
Both bills would require a background check and some training before a concealed-carry permit would be issued by a county sheriff, and Dann said he would like to see some of that training deal with teaching people when to use a firearm, not just how to use it.
Kaleda said his group supports the House version, which is less stringent regarding firearms in vehicles and carrying a concealed firearm while going through the permit process.
"At this moment, this is the safest corner in Youngstown," said John Bailey of Austinburg in Ashtabula County, as the group gathered at Front and Vindicator Square to begin its march.
Bailey attended the event with his wife, Hillary, and their two daughters, Jenna and Victoria. He wore a Kimber .40-caliber semiautomatic on his hip.
A concealed-carry law would "level the playing field between the criminals and the victims," Bailey said.
Current law puts citizens at a disadvantage because criminals don't obey the laws, he said.
"We feel that people should have the right to carry firearms for self-defense," said James Denney, president of the Mahoning County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, which represents about 1,200 members.
Denney said 45 states have versions of concealed-carry laws and haven't had an increase in violent crimes as a result.
Police chief's view
Youngstown Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr. signed the permit allowing the Defense Walk, but he's not a supporter of any concealed-carry law.
Bush viewed the walk from across Front Street, standing next to an officer videotaping the event. Although some walkers said they thought the taping was intimidating, Bush said it is common practice at a march, rally or other event.
Giving people the right to carry concealed weapons would increase the danger to citizens and police, Bush said.
Backers of the legislation say it would be safer for citizens because criminals wouldn't be able to tell who was carrying a firearm and who wasn't. Bush, however, said that would likely have an adverse effect.
Criminals would be more inclined to approach victims with a higher level of violence, fearing their intended victims might be armed, the chief said.
"This isn't the Wild West," Bush said, adding that a criminal isn't going to give a victim an opportunity to pull a gun.
William Goodwin, a senior geology and chemistry major at Kent State University who attended the walk with a Glock Model 34 9mm strapped to his leg, had a different viewpoint.
"I feel I need to protect myself from crime," he said, adding that a concealed-carry law would give him that ability.