Ashtabula County: Judge tells residents to "Arm themselves"

Jeff Maynor Updated: 4/9/2010 5:36:18 PM Posted: 4/8/2010 6:24:43 PM

JEFFERSON -- In the ongoing financial crisis in Ashtabula County, the Sheriff's Department has been cut from 112 to 49 deputies. With deputies assigned to transport prisoners, serve warrants and other duties, only one patrol car is assigned to patrol the entire county of 720 square miles. ....

....Ashtabula County Common Pleas Judge Alfred Mackey was asked what residents should do to protect themselves and their families with the severe cutback in law enforcement.

"Arm themselves," the judge said. "Be very careful, be vigilant, get in touch with your neighbors, because we're going to have to look after each other."

Ashtabula County gun dealers and firearms instructors tell WKYC their business has really picked up since the Sheriff's Department cutbacks began some months ago.....

* The department will only receive 25 applications a day. Applicants may come to the Sheriff Department's front office window and draw a number between 1 to 25 each day the applications are being excepted to be placed in line. If you are number 26 you will be sent home to return another day.
* County residence will be processed before out of county
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* Applications will only be received between Tuesday and Friday beginning at 9:00am. ending 3:00pm
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* Applications will not be received on Mondays due to the current Sheriff's Sale.
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* Applications will not be received during weekday holidays.
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* The new policy will take effect Tuesday, April 20th.

http://www.ashtabulacountysheriff.org/ccw.html

For the past three years, Ohio has seen a steady increase in the number of licenses issued. Governor Strickland signed enormous improvements to concealed carry rules into law in his first session. Those improvements brought renewed interest in CHL’s. Make the product better, and more people will want it.

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In his press release announcing the report, Attorney General Cordray remarked that "if there’s something to take away from these numbers, it is that more and more Ohioans are comfortable exercising the right to carry concealed handguns. We are pleased that we have a strong partnership with the county sheriffs who issue concealed handgun licenses, and we will continue to work together to help eligible Ohioans take advantage of this law."

Even with the surge in total outstanding licenses, the number of suspensions and revocations remains minute compared to other state-issued licenses. Less than one half of one percent have ever been revoked, and among that small number are many CHL’s revoked because a license-holder died, decided not to renew or moved out of state.

We have enjoyed concealed carry for almost six years in Ohio. It is clearly working well and is popular with responsible, law-abiding adults who care about safety.
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