Bill (re)introduced to allow guns in restaurants and fix car carry rules
Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) today announced that a bill refining concealed carry statutes has been introduced in the Ohio House. The bill, which contains language from SB239 in the 128th General Assembly, is designed to update Ohio's current concealed carry laws to make them more consistent with those in other states.
Representatives Danny Bubp (R-West Union) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) introduced HB45 which will allow citizens who hold a valid concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry a firearm in restaurants that serve alcohol. 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 Bubp/Johnson 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. Violation of these restrictions can result in felony charges that are mostly of an "administrative" nature and do not involve any intent to do harm. Still, violation of these complex rules can result in costly court proceedings and incarceration for the license holder.
The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. J. Adams, R. Adams, Amstutz, Balderson, Beck, Blair, Blessing, Boose, Brenner, Burke, Damschroder, Derickson, Dovilla, Hackett, Hayes, Huffman, Kozlowski, Maag, Martin, Rosenberger, Ruhl, Sears, Slaby, Snitchler, Stautberg, Thompson, Uecker and Young.
We welcome these Republican legislators' enthusiasm, and look forward to them passing bills that obviously have the support of a majority of citizens and legislature, but were blocked from passage last session by outgoing Speaker Armond Budish (D-Beachwood). We are also encouraged by their assurances that Governor Kasich will sign the bills.
For more information and the full text of the bill, visit:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_45
Following is a press statement issued by Reps. Bubp & Johnson:
Reps. Bubp and Johnson Introduce Concealed Carry Legislation
COLUMBUS—State Representatives Danny Bubp (R-West Union) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) recently introduced legislation to amend Ohio’s concealed carry laws to make them simpler and consistent with other states.
Specifically, House Bill 45 will simplify the provisions related to the carrying of firearms in vehicles by eliminating the “micromanaging” provisions that dictate where a gun must be stored in a vehicle, which 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.
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 while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Establishments would still have the authority to prohibit concealed carry.
“In addition to simplifying existing concealed carry laws, House Bill 45 will bring Ohio’s carry regulations in line with most other states’ regulations,” said Bubp. “Of the 48 states that issue concealed carry licenses, 42 allow licensees to carry in restaurants as long as they are not drinking. I don’t think that responsible gun owners in Ohio should be penalized with stricter regulations than gun owners of any other state.”
“When it comes to fine-tuning Ohioans’ Second Amendment rights or allowing them to protect their families, I think it is very important that we make our concealed carry laws as thorough as possible,” said Johnson.
This legislation was originally introduced during the previous General Assembly as Senate Bill 239, which received the support of the National Rifle Association, the Buckeye Firearms Association and Ohioans for Concealed Carry.
House Bill 45 will now be assigned to a House committee, where it will undergo further consideration.
Linda Walker, BFA; Rep. Terry Johnson;
Rep. Jarrod Martin (R-Beavercreek);
and Ken Hanson, BFA.
Related Media Coverage:
The People's Defender - Gun rights groups meet with Bubp
State Reps. Danny Bubp (R-West Union) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) recently introduced legislation to amend Ohio's concealed carry laws to make them simpler and consistent with other states. To mark the introduction of this bill, members of the Buckeye Firearms Association and the National Rifle Association visited the Statehouse and met with the representatives prior to the introduction of HB 45.
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