A roadside sign in Bainbridge Township reading, “Carry a Pistol Daily, Protect Your Children!” ignited outrage among residents and officials Sept. 8.
A roadside sign in Bainbridge Township reading, “Carry a Pistol Daily, Protect Your Children!” ignited outrage among residents and officials Sept. 8.
The marquee sign, located at 17477 Chillicothe Road in Bainbridge, rotates various messages of a religious and political nature and is owned by Matt Lynch, judge of the Ohio 11th District Court of Appeals, said Trustee Jeff Markley during the trustees’ regular meeting.
Sometimes, the messages read, “Pray for Peace!” “He Is Risen,” “Happy Birthday America, In God We Trust.” Other times, they say, “Tesla Terrorism is Troublous,” “Border of Martha’s Vineyard is Secure” and “Olympics Insult Jesus, God Will Not Be Mocked,” according to Lynch’s Facebook page.
“I was truly disturbed by this one as a teacher — and as one whose job is to protect children — I don’t have to do it with a gun,” Trustee Michael Bates said.
Lynch’s most recent sign prompted four residents to appear before trustees with their concerns.
Susi Kawolics, a former pastor at Federated Church in Bainbridge, said she is “embarrassed and angry” about the sign.
“As a pastor, I can appreciate some of his previous signs,” she said. “As an ordained minister in a Christian denomination, I can’t think of one Bible verse (or) one Christian principle that would even remotely suggest that the answer to the question of. ‘How would Jesus protect our children?’ Would be, ‘Have everyone carry a pistol.’ Jesus was the epitome of non-violence and his most challenging message is ‘Love your enemies,’ not, ‘Shoot your enemies.’”
Regina Doxey, a former teacher at Kenston Schools, said the sign is “fear-mongering.”
“You cannot — according to the First Amendment — go into a room and yell, ‘Fire,’ and to me, this approaches that,” she said. “Children are reading this as they go up and down the hill to school and home.”
Anne Murphy also expressed her concerns as a grandmother of four.
“I hate driving by there. I try and go any other way, but I know my kids go by there and I know they read it,” Murphy said.
Susi’s husband, Rich Kawolics, a 38-year resident of Bainbridge, said the sign gives the township a bad look to visitors.
“When someone puts up a sign that at least implies that children here are not safe and people need to carry pistols to protect children, it’s disparaging (to) this community,” Rich said. “It’s portraying a message that children of this community are not safe. That is not what this community is. That is not what this community is all about.”
He said he understands trustees’ hands might be tied, but he hopes they will use their position to control how the township is perceived.
“I call upon you to exert whatever … pressure you can to make sure that irresponsible and essentially libelous comments about this community are not made so publicly in the future,” Rich added.
When contacted for comment Sept. 9, Lynch defended the sign, saying his intention is to encourage citizens to use firearms as a means of preventing crime.
“My sign is designed to raise awareness — for those that are able — that one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to be armed,” he said.
Trustee Kristina O’Brien said she has received many calls from residents and other townships asking about the sign, prompting her to reach out to the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office immediately.
“I know this is (a) First Amendment issue. I know it’s not — it’s not threatening harm,” she explained. “It’s unfortunate and no matter where you sit in on 2A, this is your 1A rights, and unfortunately, (Lynch) walks that line that it’s up there and we were told (by the prosecutor), ‘Don’t even address it.”
O’Brien and Fiscal Officer Janice Sugarman said they know many residents in Bainbridge who are gun-owners, but do not support the message.
“Even the people that support the Second Amendment are appalled at it,” Murphy added.
Markley said the message is “reckless.”
“I’m not a fan. This particular message is reckless for sure. Whether you know your opinion on … the ability to carry a firearm (or) not, whatever, doesn’t really matter,” he said before reading a statement from Zoning Inspector Steve Averill.
The only enforceable aspects of a sign are the size, placement, location, obtrusive lighting or if it’s blocking a line of sight, Averill wrote.
Whe residents asked trustees what more could be done, they responded residents could take action through writing letters to the editor or calling Lynch directly.
“You cannot use sign content as a measure of enforcing sign ordinances,” Markley said.
And while the township has passed legislation that prohibits the use of wheeled signs, like this one, the sign was established prior to that legislation and, therefore, was grandfathered in, he said.
“What we have really in this township is the ability to enforce signs based on their placement, their size and whether they’re a distraction from a safety perspective; not the content or the message, which is unfortunate, because that is a sign that I would love to see not be at the top of the hill in our community,” Markley said. “It is largely the gateway down the street to our community.”
