It was a Saturday morning at a gunshop in Norwood, Ohio. The year was 1959 and OGCA member Ed Beard was catching up on paperwork when a man walked in with gun in hand. Nothing terribly unusual about that, but Ed sensed something unscrupulous about the man and casually reached for his pistol. As Ed picked up the gun the man fired a shot. Ed returned fire which lodged into the casing over the door through which the man exited rather abruptly.

Not a word was exchanged and no one was hit, but it sure hit the news. It came across the radio as “Shootout at Pioneer Guns” which is the way I learned how my friend’s Saturday morning was going.

The police never did find the culprit. Ed pulled the bullet out of the casing and made a ring out of it which I still have around here someplace. It is possible that this event may have pushed the button triggering Ed to sell the gunshop to me which I owned in various locations for over five decades.

Through all those years I maintained my membership and rarely missed an OGCA meeting. We had many special visitors but not once do I recall a sitting Governor stopping by. As President, I had the honor and privilege of welcoming Ohio Governor Ted Strickland to the July meeting. He has been a steadfast supporter of the right to keep and bear arms, earning him an A rating from the NRA.

This election year is especially important to gun owners and the direction of our country. OGCA is strictly nonpartisan, and I encourage you to use your vote to support the candidates that support firearm freedoms including our featured member, Congressman Bob Latta on page 10 from northwest, Ohio. Tom Ganley was also in attendance in July. Mr. Ganley is a businessman and car dealership owner from northeast Ohio who is running for U.S. Congress. Be informed and make sure you are registered to vote. The deadline to register to vote in Ohio and many other states is October 4th.

I regret to report that Kenneth Seminatore has resigned from the Board of Directors due to health reasons. He was unanimously named Director Emeritus at the July Board meeting (page 10). Please keep Ken in your thoughts and prayers that he may someday return to his full activities with OGCA, including his work as Legislative Committee Chairman.

We have much to celebrate on the legislative front. The Supreme Court of the United States, in McDonald vs Chicago, ruled that the Second Amendment applies to the states and cities. This is a huge win for gun owners and those who believe in our Bill of Rights, not to mention the law-abiding citizens of Chicago who have long been denied their rights.

The July meeting was, as always, a great time to catch up with old friends as well as meet new members. We had 494 guests, 139 new applicants and 729 tables.

I look forward to seeing all of you at the September 11-12 meeting. Please remember to mail in or bring in your raffle tickets and donation for the PAC raffle. Drawing is noon, September 12, and we have three great prizes as shown on the back cover of our September 11-12 newsletter.
 
Sincerely,
Frank S. Hodges, Jr.
President

 Gun Collectors Etiquette - A Partial List

1. Every firearm should be treated as if it were loaded. Keep all firearms pointed in a safe direction. Keep your finger out of the trigger guard.
2. Never touch a firearm or remove the safety tie without permission from the owner.
3. Don't ask to handle a firearm unless you have serious intent to buy.
4. Look for signs that indicate what is appropriate. Collections marked "Display Only" are never to be touched.
5. Do not dry fire, work bolts or jack actions without permission. If you want to manipulate anything, get permission. Make sure whatever you’re manipulating is not a safety issue.
6. Avoid unnecessary wear. Never spin the cylinder of a revolver like you were playing Russian roulette or slam it closed by “flipping” it sideways.
7. When necessary to inspect a gun you have intent to buy, the tableholder should be the one that cuts the safety tie. The tableholder should also be the one that opens the bolt and clears a weapon in a safe manner before he hands it over.
8. Remember how a gun was laying and put it back down the way you found it. Never hit the gun against another gun or lay it down on top of another gun.
9. Hold a gun by the wood and not the metal if possible. If you get fingerprints on the metal, alert the tableholder so he can clean it.
10. Don’t allow children to run amuck. Keep your kids with you and instruct them on all safety rules and general etiquette.
11. Never set food or drink on someone's table.
12. Never interrupt a “sale in progress” or try to purchase an item someone else is holding or negotiating a price on.
13. Do not block a table or aisle chatting with your buddy. Keep traffic moving past the table so people can see his display.
14. "May I..." and "Thank You" go a long way and are just plain common courtesy.