The Ohio House of Representatives passed Wednesday the Senate companion legislation to amend Ohio’s concealed carry laws to make them simpler and consistent with other states, Johnson said.
According to Johnson, Senate Bill 17 will simplify provisions related to the carrying of firearms in vehicles by eliminating what he calls micromanaging provisions that dictate where a gun must be stored in a vehicle, which he says allows law-abiding citizens to avoid accidental violations. It retains the current procedures that are followed when a licensee is pulled over and approached by a law enforcement official.
Johnson said the legislation would also permit license holders to carry in establishments that serve alcohol, provided that the individual is not consuming alcohol. It does not change the current law prohibiting an individual from possessing a firearm under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He said establishments would still have the authority to prohibit
concealed carry.
“I’m very pleased to see the passage of Senate Bill 17 from the house,” Johnson said, who jointly sponsored the House companion bill — House Bill 45 — with Rep. Danny Bubp, R-West Union. “At a time when our constitutional rights are being quietly and systematically eroded, it is vital that we restore these rights and safeguard our ability to protect our families.”
Johnson said in addition to simplifying existing concealed carry laws, House Bill 45 and Senate Bill 17 will bring Ohio’s carry regulations in line with most other states’ regulations. According to the Buckeye Firearms Association, of the 48 states that issue concealed carry licenses, 42 allow licensees to carry in restaurants as long as they are not drinking.
“Law-abiding citizens have a constitutional right to bear arms and protect themselves, yet Ohio’s laws about this issue can be confusing, especially when determining where you can carry and where you cannot,” Bubp said. “This legislation will simplify your laws and keep people from unknowingly committing a crime.”
The House Bill passed 56-39 and the Senate Bill passed 27-9.
The legislation was originally introduced during the previous General Assembly as Senate Bill 29, which received the support of the National Rifle Association, the Buckeye Firearms Association and Ohioans for Concealed Carry.
Senate Bill 17 passed with bipartisan support and will now move to Gov. John Kasich for his signature. Rob Nichols of Kasich’s office said the governor is planning to sign the bill, but has not set a date for that signing.
FRANK LEWIS may be reached at (740) 353-3101,
ext. 232, or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.
About 310,000,000 people in the U.S.
Less than 700,000 police on four crews covering 24 - 7.
With vacations and absence, about on policeman for every 2000 people.
(Think of all the people who are left unprotected the next time some politician appears in front of a phalanx of police)
More than 6,300,000 concealed carry licenses in the U.S.
About one concealed carry license for every 40 adults.
Concealed carry provides an instant response that is a much larger deterrent to violent crime than first response law enforcement.
I have personal experience with this fact.
Violent crime rates have dropped with the increase in concealed carry.
http://orcosportsmans.com/Pages/ConcealedCarry.htm