Conceal, carry law still has a few kinks

July 7, 2004
Fairborn Daily Herald

GREENE COUNTY — The Ohio General Assembly passed revised House Bill 12 on Jan. 7 to allow licensed Ohioans the right to carry a concealed weapon.

The next day, Jan. 8, Gov. Bob Taft signed the bill, and on April 8, the concealed carry bill became law. Ohioans began standing in line to apply for their license to legally conceal and carry their firearm.

Almost three months later, many of the details are still being ironed out, but most gun holders feel the law is going well and has benefited those law-abiding citizens who want to carry their firearm.

"I didn't change who I was when I got my license to carry my gun," Greene County Dailies Outdoors Writer Larry Moore said. "Xenia and Greene County appear to be very good about the law."

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Moore said one hurdle is the fact that some businesses post notices at the entrances of their buildings stating they do not allow gun owners to bring their guns inside.

"For every business posting, there are some not posting doing the same kind of business. I am switching banks … because they won't allow me to bring my gun inside," Moore said.

He said businesses that post notices not allowing conceal and carry gun permit owners to bring their gun inside probably do so because they think there is a legal liability. What they don't realize, Moore said, is that there is a clause in the law that provides immunity to these businesses.

"There are a lot of things to iron out. There is going to end up being a lot of court cases to fix some problems," Moore said.

Some issues that need to be ironed out are such legal stipulations that require conceal and carry gun owners to have their weapon in plain sight while in their car, but Moore said by doing this he has already been questioned by police who received "man with a gun" calls on him after passersby saw a gun in his car.

Another issue that needs to be worked out is that conceal and carry license holders can legally take their gun into a public park, but not a building in the park, like the restroom.

Also, Moore used the example of being in a building with a posting of "no weapons" and seeing a crime take place. Does the license holder go out to his car, grab his gun and rush back into the building to help? This would technically be illegal because he then violated the law by bringing his weapon into a posted office, even if a crime was occurring.

"It's a big responsibility to carry," Moore said.

The Sidney Daily News in Shelby County understands what a big responsibility it is to publish the names and addresses of those citizens who have licenses to carry guns. They are now being investigated and sued by some of those individuals for running their names and addresses in their paper. The group Ohioans for Concealed Carry said it's illegal to publish that information, but Shelby County Sheriff Kevin O'Leary said the law is confusing and open to interpretation. This legal battle will most likely play out in court, but the Sidney Daily News said it is standing by its publication.

Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro said citizens can apply for a license at any sheriff's office where they reside. After applying for a license, that person needs to take a minimum of 12 hours of certified training, including two hours at a firing range and a written and physical exam.

Conceal and Carry Licenses can cost up to $45 and the license could be issued within 45 days of receipt. Anyone holding a conceal and carry license needs to have it on them at all times and must inform any police officer during a stop that they are possessing a weapon.

Greene County Sheriff's Lt. Melissa Litteral said so far 723 people have applied for a conceal and carry permit in Greene County and 314 have been issued.

To apply for a conceal and carry license or to pick up a book on the law, visit any sheriff's office.