FLASH: Petro finds ''no-guns'' signs on fairgrounds NOT valid

In response to a request from the Preble County Prosecuting Attorney, Attorney General Jim Petro has issued an opinion that coincides with one Ohioans For Concealed Carry has maintained since House Bill 12, Ohio's concealed carry law, went into effect:

Ohio county fairboards may not post "no-guns" signs on fairgrounds property other than buildings, and concealed carry by licensed individuals is NOT prohibited there.

The extensive ruling finds, in summary:

"...A board of county commissioners may not prohibit a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun under R.C. 2923.125 or R.C. 2923.1213 from carrying a concealed handgun on property that is not within a building. Charging a fee for admission to an event on property that is not within a building does not permit a board of county commissioners to prohibit a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun under R.C. 2923.125 or R.C. 2923.1213 from carrying a concealed handgun on the property."

Click here to download the entire opinion (in .pdf format) from the Attorney General's website.

The list of county fair boards which have posted signs in violation of the law is available on OFCC's Do Not Patronize While Armed database of taxpayer-funded entities.