Dispatch: Uncertainty still surrounds conceal-carry bill

December 12, 2003

Lee Leonard
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Ohio is closer than ever to having a law permitting citizens to carry concealed handguns, but it’s still far away.

"It’s disappointing and it’s frustrating," said Jim Irvine, political-action chairman of Ohioans for Concealed Carry, on what should have been a day for rejoicing after the legislature passed House Bill 12 and sent it to Gov. Bob Taft.

However, Taft said he will veto the bill because he wants the list of permit-holders to be public record so that the new program can be evaluated. The bill allows reporters access to the names, but only on a caseby-case basis when they can show it’s in the public interest.

"We really came very close to a bill that I could sign, and it’s regrettable that we did not. But the public records portion of the bill is simply too limiting," Taft said yesterday.

House Speaker Larry Householder has promised to try to override a veto, but Senate President Doug White said he’s not sure the votes are there in the Senate. The Senate passed the measure 25-8 and the House 70-27.

A governor’s veto may be overridden by a three-fifths vote of both legislative chambers. While the House totals exceeded that number, lawmakers sometimes are reluctant to overturn the veto of a governor from their own political party.

An override could come any time during the two-year legislative session, which lasts through Dec. 31, 2004. The House will wind up the 2003 portion of the session with one meeting next week. The Senate has adjourned until January.

"The legislature has given him (Taft) everything he asked for," Irvine said. "There’s nothing that’s going to appease him on this issue. Gov. Taft is vehemently anti-gun."

Irvine said groups have been working toward conceal-carry in Ohio for 12 years, and this is the first time a bill has reached the governor’s desk.

"That’s progress," he said.

Click here to read the entire story in the Columbus Dispatch.