HB 48 (Eliminate many 'no-guns' victim zones) scheduled for 3rd hearing in House committee

Chairman Ron Maag (R-Lebanon) has announced that the House State Government committee will be hearing testimony on HB 48 (Eliminate many 'no-guns' victim zones) next Wednesday, June 10 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 121. The chairman has also indicated that a substitute bill may be offered.

As introduced, HB 48 would allow Ohioans to carry concealed guns on college campuses, places of worship, day-care facilities, private airplanes, school safety zones and certain government buildings. The bill is similar to HB 231, which Maag introduced in the previous General Assembly. That bill received several hearings but House Republican leaders ultimately failed to act bring the bill up for a vote.

In speaking of his bill from the last session, Maag said "These are reasonable, practical changes to gun laws in this state. The aim is to close loopholes in concealed carry regulations and ensure that those legally permitted to possess a weapon are able to exercise their Second Amendment right."

Maag refers to the currently prohibited places as "unarmed victim zones," noting that people risk becoming a victim of a crime when they are required to leave their firearms at home.

According to a New York Daily News report, with a single exception, every multiple-victim public shooting in the U.S. in which more than three people have been killed since at least 1950 has taken place where citizens are not allowed to carry their own firearms.

It is time to stop enforcing these 'no-guns' victim zones and give people back their constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense.

HB 48 is co-sponsored by Reps. Wes Retherford, Andy Thompson, Jim Buchy, A. Nino Vitale, Thomas E. Brinkman, Jr., Steven W. Kraus, Sarah LaTourette, Bill Hayes, Ron Hood, and John Becker.

Click here to read the bill in its entirety.

All witnesses are asked to submit 30 copies of written testimony to Chairman Maag's office 24 hours in advance.

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.