Candidates stump in favor of guns at start of AG campaign

POWELL - Most audiences wear cell phones on their belts, but those gathered at Liberty Park on Sunday wore loaded handguns too.

About 100 members of Ohioans for Concealed Carry heard from all three attorney general candidates at the group's annual picnic. State Treasurer Richard Cordray (D-Pleasant Twp), former U.S. Attorney Mike Crites (R-Powell) and attorney Robert Owens (I-Delaware) introduced themselves to the audience and explained how they would operate as attorney general, especially regarding guns.

Crites said he knows from experience who to blame for violent gun crimes.

"As a prosecutor I've learned one thing: we don't have a problem with too many guns in this state, we have a problem with too many criminals walking the streets willing to use the guns," Crites said, adding that the state must enforce mandatory minimum sentences for criminals that use guns.

Crites said as attorney general he would set up a hotline for people to call if their concealed-carry applications are being blocked. In addition, Crites said he would work with other states to ensure Ohioans licensed to carry guns can do so in other states. Such reciprocity agreements stem from the U.S. Constitutions' requirement that states grant "full faith and credit" to the public acts of other states.

Generally, Cordray spoke more about how his experience as treasurer translates to being attorney general. First, Cordray said he would run a tight ship by eliminating wasteful spending. Second, Cordray said he would straighten the attorney general ship, just as said he did at the treasury following Coingate.

"If I do have the opportunity, if you see fit to elect me as attorney general, I will walk into that office with the same enthusiasm for restoring the public trust there," Cordray said.

Cordray said he is comfortable with those who hunt and touted the endorsement of Gov. Ted Strickland, whom he called an "enthusiastic gun advocate." Cordray said as attorney general he would work to enforce current gun laws, seek better training for law enforcement officers so they don't infringe on law-abiding gun owners' right to carry, and work with other states on reciprocity agreements.

Owens, a member of Ohioans for Concealed Carry, said as attorney general he would push to change the law so that people are not required to have a license to carry a gun in Ohio, similar to Alaska.

Owens said this position rests on his belief that common citizens are the best crime fighters.

"You look at yourself in the mirror every day and that's the best source of fighting crime," Owens told the crowd with a .357 revolver holstered on his hip.

All three candidates said the right to bear arms is a natural right not given by the government. Owens is the only gun owner of the three, though Cordray said he's hunted and Crites said he received weapons training in the Navy.

In interviews with PolitickerOH.com following their speeches, each man elaborated on his candidacy.

Cordray said as attorney general he would combat predatory lending and would work with local law enforcement to combat crime because the attorney general is not the state's top cop but its top attorney.

On political corruption, Cordray said that he and Democrats cleaned their own house by asking former Attorney General Marc Dann to step down or be impeached in May.

"The governor and I and other state leaders were very forceful in urging him to resign and threatening impeachment and other measures if he did not," Cordray said.

However, Crites took issue with Cordray's version of history.

"I think most people are unaware that any role that Mr. Cordray may have initially had but it sounds now like he's trying to take credit for having forced Mr. Dann out of office," Crites said. "I would respectfully disagree."

Crites reiterated his argument that if Cordray is elected as attorney general he will seek higher office two years from now. Cordray is currently in his second year as state treasurer. Crites said the problems left by Dann in the attorney general's office can only be fixed by years of work by a career prosecutor not a "career politician."

Owens said neither party is credible about cleaning up corruption in government.

"Here it is in a very short period of time both major parties have had huge scandals and made a complete mess out of the attorney general's office. Issue with Coingate, issues with Marc Dann...." Owens said.

Crites and Owens both said they want to debate Cordray this fall.