Arriving at BIPC last Monday, a gold-colored adhesive had been stuck to the entry. Next to a graphic of a revolver inside the familiar symbol of the red circle with a slash through it, a notice read:

Unless otherwise authorized by law, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code, no person shall knowingly possess, have under the person's control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance onto these premises.

Was this for real? I stopped and stared to get the full impact of what it represented.

Since last Thursday, we Ohioans are now safer by being lawfully allowed to carry our concealed weapons. Now criminals have a greater risk of choosing their next victim in this state because that person might be packing some heat.

There are exceptions under the law. You cannot carry the weapon into government buildings, schools and child-care centers, places where alcohol is served, or any privately-owned business that has a clearly-marked warning like BIPC. You are required to take a gun safety class.

I was amazed to see how far this movement has taken the country. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this. Folks are distributing No Guns - No Money cards to businesses prohibiting guns on their premises. That means BIPC, too!

Since I run in a pretty hippy-love group at BIPC, I haven't yet heard of any negative repercussions, but perhaps I should complain: If I had a gun at my cozy cubicle, then I wouldn't have to worry about any Grumpy Gusses and Gretchens that BIPC has recently laid off. And there's always the risk of those pesky Al-Quaeda cells overtaking the quiet -- too quiet -- corporate buildings next door or in the condominium development down the street.

In recent years and on previous blog entries, I've questioned whether we are really free as a people in this nation. How free are we living with the one of the highest violent crime rates in the civilized (so-called) world? How does carrying a concealed gun change that for the better?

It is true that our constitution holds dear the Right To Bear Arms. But that point of view and cultural mindset is turning us into a country that, in its application, seems more and more like living in the middle east or, hmmm, certain occupied territories.

However, I have discovered a cheap and clever alternative. On Thursday, D and his boyfriend T came to visit me. In discussing the No Guns - No Money topic, we created a stir in the restaurant over our alternative: Gun-Friendly Zone plaques and stickers! We designed a couple of visuals to help: A gun cartoon looking like a cowboy and a female sexpot version with a pearl handle and snub nose.

Ingenius! With a "Gun Friendly" sticker affixed to the door of my apartment or in the window of my car, what right-minded criminal would think of attacking me? Why should anyone drop hundreds of dollars on a gun purchase, registration and training fees, when my friendly, highly-affordable stickers give the impression of owning a gun? (I'm copyrighting the idea, and registering the figures tonight!) One day, you can tell your friends I knew him when...

And if anyone steals my ideas? They better have a concealed weapon permit for real!