Handgunlaw.us issues new Ohio reciprocity map to reflect HB 234 changes [UPDATE: Ohio AG signs new agreements!]

NOTICE: The map on this page is out-of-date. Please CLICK HERE to see the current reciprocity map for Ohio.

The good people at Handgunlaw.us have issued an updated reciprocity map that reflects changes that go into effect today, March 23, 2015, as HB 234 takes effect.

According to Gary Slider, "Georgia and Colorado will honor Ohio [today], as their law states they will honor anyone who honors them.

"Texas and Wisconsin will most likely honor Ohio in the future. Texas, as they will honor anyone who honors them, and Wisconsin, because Ohio has [gone] to the NICS check."

However, Slider notes that Wisconsin "will most likely only honor Ohio licenses issued on or after March 23, 2015, as that is the date they start using the NICS check. They did this with other states when they went to the NICS check and started honoring them."

The map also shows Michigan, Colorado, South Carolina and Florida as only honoring the Ohio Resident permit. Slider notes that, as of today, Ohio will start issuing to certain non-residents, so the map has to reflect that those non-resident licenses are not valid in those four states. Those states' laws recognize only resident licenses from the states they honor.

[UPDATE 3/23/15 3:45pm - In addition to the states listed on this map, the Ohio Attorney General has announced that he has signed reciprocity agreements with New Hampshire, Texas and Wisconsin.]

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.

Related Article:

What HB 234 Means to You: Part II - Reciprocity

Media Coverage:

Associated Press - New Ohio gun rules reducing concealed carry training, allowing noise suppressors take effect

Columbus Dispatch - Less-strict gun rules start in Ohio today

“This is a very comprehensive bill,” said Jim Irvine, chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association. “Over time, people will look back and see this as a watershed law that fixed a lot of little things.”

...

Irvine said while gun-rights supporters wanted “stand your ground” in the law, many “other issues that are addressed in the bill will benefit more people. Stand your ground doesn’t affect that many people’s lives.”

He said the new background check procedures are a big improvement.

“For the first time, Ohio is going to do real background checks,” he said. The new law empowers county sheriffs to check three national databases directly, instead of just one maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation of the Ohio attorney general’s office. The federal databases contain voluminous criminal-history records, including warrants, protection orders and lists of people who don’t qualify for a permit because of a prior arrest or dishonorable military discharge.

Irvine got pushback from his members who feared the law will empower the federal government to decide who does and does not get a concealed-carry permit. “This has nothing to do with ceding power over firearms rights to the federal government,” he said.

Columbus Dispatch - Ohio reaches concealed-carry reciprocity with 5 states

Guns.com - Ohio law relaxing gun regulations goes into effect

“This is a very comprehensive bill,” Jim Irvine, chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association, told The Dispatch. “Over time, people will look back and see this as a watershed law that fixed a lot of little things.”

Newark Advocate - Gun law changes now in effect

Norwalk Reflector - New concealed carry law effective Monday

Sun Times Network - Ohio's new gun laws go into effect today

Toledo Blade - New Ohio law allows quieter guns in woods

“This is a very comprehensive bill,” said Jim Irvine, chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association. “Over time, people will look back and see this as a watershed law that fixed a lot of little things.”

...

Mr. Irvine said while gun-rights supporters wanted “stand your ground” in the law, many “other issues that are addressed in the bill will benefit more people. Stand your ground doesn’t affect that many people’s lives.

WBNS (CBS Columbus) - Ohio Concealed Carry Permits To Be Recognized In 5 Additional States

WCMH (NBC Columbus) - New Gun Laws Take Effect Monday

The Buckeye Firearms Association was instrumental in encouraging lawmakers to revise the previous gun laws. Linda Walker is their Vice President and said two states bordering Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania have no training requirements for concealed carry permits. Two others, Michigan and Kentucky require eight hours like Ohio's new law.

"The fact is the states that don't require training have no more accidents with firearms than states such as Illinois, which requires 16 hours of training," Walker said.

WCPO (ABC Cincinnati) - Looser restrictions on concealed carry licenses take effect in Ohio

WJW - (FOX Cleveland) - Less-strict gun laws go into effect in Ohio today

WKRC - (CBS Cincinnati) - New Ohio gun laws: Noise suppressors allowed in come cases

WTOL - (CBS Toledo) - New CCW laws in Ohio go into effect WTTE - (FOX Columbus) - Gun Owners Excited About Reduced Restrictions in Ohio