Gun control debate continues in Crawford County

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The debate on gun control rages on but one local man has been doing his research long before President Obama presented executive orders last week for stricter gun registration laws.

Former Galion Police Officer David Dayne has compiled the information he gathered into a book, “Shall Not Be Infringed: An Argument for Freedom.”

“The book was hundreds and hundreds of pages but I have spent the last year condensing it down to 18 pages to send to our legislators. I knew it had to be fairly short or they will never read it,” Dayne said.

Dayne, who has reached the rank of colonel, has served in the United States Army, Air Force and Ohio’s Military Reserve. He said his book highlights the fact that Ohioans are in a struggle to have the right to bear arms fully restored.

Our legislators are not keeping with their oaths to uphold the United States Constitution and the constitution of Ohio. When government licenses our rights, making them into privileges, it is going down the road of tyranny,” said Dayne.

Dayne said the definition of keeping and bearing arms means that each citizen has the inherent right to acquire, possess, bear, trade and utilize any manner of arms for recreational use, the protection of self, family, community, state and country.

“We need to abide by the second amendment and stop infringing on people’s God-given right to bear arms,” Dayne said.

Dayne said laws enacted to control gun ownership are in direct violation of the second amendment and are not legal.

While many agree with Dayne, there are just as many that agree with the gun laws that are place and believe in the need for stricter regulations.

“I lived in New York City while I attended college in the late 80’s. There were very stringent laws in all five boroughs of New York at that time, more so than the state of New York. No one was allowed to have a gun unless they went through a very in-depth process and to be quite honest, I felt pretty safe walking down the street alone. I was mugged at Grand Central Station and used my stiletto heel to fend off my attacker. It worked and I wasn’t shot because he did not have a gun,” said Colonel Crawford graduate Mary Wendelken.

Wendelken also lived and taught school in Birmingham, England.

“I had students who threatened me with knives but I still did not feel like I needed a gun for protection. It makes me very uneasy when people talk about arming teachers. Do we really want guns in the classroom with our children? My brother teaches in the inner city of Tampa and he does not carry a gun,” Wendelken said.

Ken Reynolds of AA American Bail Bonds in Galion teaches conceal carry classes and is offering free classes to Galion and Northmor School Districts’ teachers and staff.

“We can arm teachers in a safe manner in which the children are not at risk,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds agrees with increased background checks before being able to purchase a gun but not the registration of guns.

“I follow the laws but I am the one that needs to be registered and pass a background check, my guns should not be. It is my right to own firearms to protect myself, my family and my property as long as I am a law-abiding citizen,” Reynolds said.

Dayne said he will continue his crusade to educate legislators on the importance of upholding the constitution when it comes to firearms.

“It is our right to bear arms and the government should not be imposing limitations on those rights,” Dayne said.

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By Kimberly Gasuras

Galion Inquirer

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