Concealed guns: Ohio, Kentucky deciding rules

April 17, 2004
Cincinnati Post

Ohioans with a valid concealed-carry permit will be able to bring their weapons into Kentucky, but Kentuckians should wait a while before taking their guns north of the Ohio River.

In 1998, the Kentucky General Assembly passed a law that automatically accepted "valid carry concealed weapons licenses issued by other states."

But Ohio -- whose concealed-carry law went into effect this week -- is still working out agreements with other states.

"We will, but we haven't entered into any agreements yet," said Bob Beasley, a spokesman for Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro.

"We're in the process of contacting the other 45 states and examining their laws. In terms of a timetable, I can't give you one, but we are actively working on it."

He said it's likely that Ohio will demand reciprocity -- if it accepts concealed-carry permits from another state, that state must honor Ohio concealed-carry permits.

Kentucky's law is automatic, said state police spokesman Sgt. Phil Crumpton.

According to the KSP Web site, 25 states, including Indiana, accept a concealed-carry permit from Kentucky. The site has not been updated with information from Ohio.

The Ohio law took effect April 8. It requires those who apply for permits to show proof they have had 12 hours of safety training within the last three years.

Of the 100,000 people expected to apply within the next six months, 80 to 90 percent will need to take the classes, the Attorney General's office said.

Kentucky's law, passed in 1996, has similar requirements. A person seeking a permit "must demonstrate competence' with a firearm and pass a "certified firearms training course."

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Ohioans For Concealed Carry has learned that the following states will recognize an Ohio license to carry concealed:

Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Utah, Idaho, Alaska, Vermont

A national map of states which will likely recognize Ohio's concealed carry license is shown below. Residents of these states are not automatically permitted to carry in Ohio.