Ohio Allows Proud Boys to Carry Rifles, But Chastises Gun-Owning Protesters

Letters to the editor highlight Ohio's contradictory gun policies and the public discourse around immigration enforcement.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 3:47am

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Letters to the editor in The Dispatch newspaper criticize Ohio's gun laws, which allow Proud Boys to openly carry semi-automatic rifles at protests but restrict gun ownership for other protesters. The letters also condemn the state's attorney general for downplaying concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents' alleged misconduct, and praise Ohio's natural gas and oil industries for driving economic growth.

Why it matters

The letters highlight the perceived hypocrisy in Ohio's gun laws, which seem to favor certain groups over others, and the ongoing debate around immigration enforcement and its impact on civil liberties. They also underscore the importance of the state's energy industry to the local economy.

The details

The letters criticize Ohio's gun laws, which allow Proud Boys and other groups to openly carry semi-automatic rifles at protests, while restricting gun ownership for other protesters. They also condemn the state's attorney general, Keith Faber, for downplaying concerns about alleged misconduct by ICE agents, including breaking down doors, dragging citizens from their cars, and even murdering two citizens. In contrast, the letters praise Ohio's natural gas and oil industries for driving economic growth and investment in the state.

  • The letters were published on February 3, 2026.
  • The Dispatch published a headline on January 30, 2026, asking 'Are guns allowed at protests?'

The players

Lou Jannazo

A Columbus resident who wrote a letter criticizing Ohio's gun laws and the public discourse around immigration enforcement.

Joe Robert Tilley

A Columbus resident who wrote a letter criticizing Ohio Attorney General Keith Faber's downplaying of concerns about ICE's alleged misconduct.

Keith Faber

The Ohio Attorney General who wrote a column titled 'Hysteria around ICE isn't justified', which was criticized by one of the letter writers.

Renée Good

A person who was allegedly murdered by ICE agents, according to one of the letter writers.

Alex Pretti

A person who was allegedly murdered by ICE agents, according to one of the letter writers.

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What they’re saying

“Ohio allows Proud Boys to open-carry semi-automatic rifles to protest parents taking their kids to see drag queens read stories at a church. Ohio allows anybody with a pulse to conceal carry weapons anywhere they want, except, of course, the Ohio Statehouse.”

— Lou Jannazo, Columbus resident (The Dispatch)

“ICE is out of control for citizen and non-citizen alike. They need to go. And Keith Faber needs to go. We cannot have an attorney general as unaware as this man appears to be. With his attitude, I can't see our rights as Ohioans and Americans being protected.”

— Joe Robert Tilley, Columbus resident (The Dispatch)

What’s next

The judge in the case against the Proud Boys protesters will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow them to continue carrying semi-automatic rifles at future demonstrations.

The takeaway

This case highlights the perceived double standard in Ohio's gun laws, which seem to favor certain groups over others, and the ongoing debate around the role of law enforcement and its impact on civil liberties. It also underscores the importance of the state's energy industry to the local economy.