HB12 Sponsor: OSHP demands for unsecured firearms in vehicles ''ridiculous''

Marietta Times
by Brad Bauer

The Marietta area's lawmakers say they would favor some kind of new law to allow citizens to carry a concealed weapon as the issue returns to the hands of the Ohio General Assembly.

Ohio Rep. Jim Aslanides, R-Coshocton, the bill's House sponsor, said the citizens want their lawmakers to continue to pursue the issue even though it is proving to be a difficult one to resolve.

"The call for concealed carry is still ongoing in Ohio," Aslanides said. "The House has passed a version and the Senate has passed a version. ... But (the House) does not concur with Senate amendments because of two provisions installed. It has left us at a standstill."

After the bill made it through the House, the Senate amended the bill to help it gain the support of the Ohio Highway Patrol and Gov. Bob Taft.

Because of concerns raised by the patrol, Taft promised to veto the bill as proposed by the House. After some changes to the bill at the Senate level, the patrol has taken a neutral stance. Taft said earlier this year he would sign the bill.

That can't happen until the House and Senate iron out the details in a special conference committee. Aslanides said he has called for a conference committee, but so far, Senate members have stalled efforts to meet on the issue.

"We have designated three members to meet, but they haven't designated anyone," he said. "They are urging law enforcement agencies to get together and work something out, which I don't think will happen."

The House bill would have allowed motorists to carry concealed weapons without restrictions.

Under the amended Senate bill, motorists would be required to tell officers immediately if they were carrying weapons, and either have the gun out in the open or locked in a glove box. If children were present, the gun would have to be unloaded and be locked away in the vehicle.

"That is what the highway patrol is asking for and it is ridiculous," Aslanides said. "They are asking for a person to unsecure a weapon from the person who is responsible for it and leaving it open for passengers to get at."

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"That's the way it should be," said Leroy Chapman, owner of North Pole Gunsmithing in Marietta. "We should be granted our right to protect ourselves. A gun is nothing more than a tool to help us do that."

Chapman pointed out crimes in Florida went down after the state lifted concealed carry bans.

"After a while, violent crimes started to rise again," Chapman said. "That's because criminals began to target tourists. They know people driving rental cars weren't going to be carrying, and they went after them."

Chapman said when Florida ordered stickers identifying cars as rentals removed, violent crime again declined.

"Criminals should be the ones afraid of concealed carry, not anyone else," he said.

Right now, the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate have two competing versions of the concealed carry bill. There are two provisions in the Senate bill that are not in the House bill.

Ohio Rep. Nancy Hollister, R-Marietta, said the state should have a concealed carry law, and she will pursue the issue.

"It is a fundamental right," Hollister said. "Folks who want to carry should be able to carry provided they can meet certain criteria required to get a permit."

Many of Hollister's constituents agree with her that allowing law-abiding citizens the right to carry a concealed weapon is one that never should have been taken away.

Ohio Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens, is a supporter of the concealed carry, and he disagrees with the Senate version's requiring people with children in the car to have the weapon unloaded and locked up.

Stewart said that provisions creates a dangerous situation.

"Vehicles with children become targets," Stewart said. "Criminals are not going to go after someone who could have a weapon. Leaving that provision in makes every soccer mom a potential target."

The Senate's removal of affirmative defense, which allows people arrested for carrying a hidden gun to prove to prosecutors or a judge that the situation is essential for safety reasons, is another area of concern for House members.

"If you can prove the need to carry a weapon, you should not be punished for it," Aslanides said.

Aslanides said the highway patrol is the only law enforcement agency against the House version of the bill.

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