Ohio General Assembly Passes Gun Bills; Kasich Will Sign
OutdoorHub 06.16.11
DELAWARE, OH – The Ohio General Assembly has passed Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Senator Tim Schaffer (R), which will allow citizens who hold a valid concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry a firearm in restaurants.
To do so, license holders may not consume any alcohol and must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to OpenCarry.org, 42 states (including every state that borders Ohio) allow non-drinking license holders to carry firearms in restaurants.
The bill also reduces burdensome restrictions regarding how a license holder must transport a firearm in a car. Currently, Ohio is the only state to place such complex limitations on license holders. The bill also provides a way for people who were convicted of improperly transporting a firearm under the current law to receive relief if they would have been in compliance under the law as amended in SB17.
The House passed the bill by a 55-38 vote, and because a technical amendment had been made in the House, a concurrence vote was required in the Senate. The Senate quickly took up action, and passed the bill by a 25-7 vote.
The bill will now be sent to Republican Governor John Kasich. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Kasich’s spokesman has now confirmed the Governor plans to sign it into law.
The Senate also passed House Bill 54, sponsored by Reps. Ron Maag (R-Lebanon) and Jarrod Martin (R-Beavercreek), which seeks to align Ohio law with federal statutes regarding the restoration of rights to Ohio firearms purchasers. Having passed with a 24-9 margin in the Senate without amendments, the bill will now also be sent to Governor Kasich for his signature.
Ken Hanson, Legislative Chair of Buckeye Firearms Association, said, “These bills address three important issues facing Ohio gun owners and concealed carry license holders and seek to align Ohio law with federal law and the laws of our surrounding states.”
Passage of this bill marks the culmination of more than two years of hard work for grassroots pro-gun rights groups in Ohio.
Buckeye Firearms Association is a grassroots political action committee (PAC) dedicated to defending and advancing the right of Ohio citizens to own and use firearms for all legal activities, including self-defense, hunting, competition, and recreation. We work to elect pro-gun candidates and lobby for pro-gun legislation.
Contact:
Jim Irvine, jirvine@buckeyefirearms.org or (440) 503-3011
