For Immediate Release

January 10, 2002

Columbus, Ohio -- People's Rights Organization, Ohio's most active grassroots group in the fields of Education, Legislation and Litigation, today announced it is pleased by the results of the ruling declaring Ohio's prohibition against concealed firearms unconstitutional in Hamilton County, Ohio.

"The basic human right of self defense when you leave the safety of your home is affirmed with this judgment, at least for Hamilton County residents, says Dennis Walker, secretary of Columbus-based People's Rights Organization, a plaintiff in the case. "The decision was made on the facts and once again demonstrates the lack of logic in Ohio's affirmative defense clause. We made our case and the results are clear. Even police witnesses for those who defend this irrational law couldn't agree on how the affirmative defense applies.

"While we are cautiously optimistic that this ruling will ultimately have statewide implications, we are very pleased that the plaintiff team - four individuals whose jobs require them to take an extra step to remain safe, the Second Amendment Foundation, Ohioans for Concealed Carry, and People's Rights Organization -- prevailed on behalf of all law-abiding people in Hamilton County."

Hamilton County Judge Robert Ruehlman issued his ruling on the case this morning. Defending the case were attorneys for Hamilton County and, interestingly, legal counsel for the organization formerly known as Handgun Control Inc. "There is no doubt that the very thought a potential victim might possess a firearm deters that element of our society that cares nothing about laws or human life but rather understands only one thing -- brute force," Hamilton County Judge Robert Ruehlman wrote.

"Amidst all of the baying from gun opponents is the irrefutable fact that there will always be people in our society who refuse to follow any rules and how can never been reasoned with or rehabilitated. These people have no conscience and no qualms about doing harm to innocent persons. As a consequence, every law-abiding citizen of this state has the right to protect him or herself with a concealed firearm."

About People's Rights Organization

The People's Rights Organization, a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization focused on education, is a leading advocate and teacher of gun safety, personal protection training and crime avoidance instruction. and is regarded as Ohio's most active civil rights organization regarding 2nd Amendment issues. The People's Rights Organization is well known to lawmakers within the Ohio General Assembly, the Ohio attorney general's office, as well as to the City of Columbus. In the 1990s, the group filed and won two landmark federal court cases that repealed vague and unconstitutional firearms possession laws that had been hastily passed by Columbus City Council. In addition, the organization has assisted in other successful lawsuits, and has supported and helped draft numerous pieces of legislation promoting gun safety, child safety programs, and education reform.

Since its founding in 1989, People's Rights Organization has spent significant resources to promote safety strategies for women and men, and to underwrite gun accident avoidance education for school-age children by police and private citizen instructors. In addition, with more than 25 members who have gone through the rigorous training required to become NRA Certified Instructors, People's Rights Organization is Ohio's largest firearms safety teaching team. Because of the organization's community service orientation, People's Rights Organization instructors volunteer their time teaching Home Firearm Safety, Personal Protection, basic marksmanship in rifle, pistol, shotgun and black powder firearms.

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For more information, please contact:

People's Rights Organization