HB450 (Armed Services 18-21 gun rights restoration) scheduled for third hearing & possible vote in Senate committee

The Senate Judiciary on Criminal Justice Committee, chaired by Sen. Tim Grendell (R-18), will hear proponent, opponent and interested party testimony on Rep. Bruce Goodwin's HB450, legislation that would restore gun rights to members of the armed services or the Ohio National Guard who are between the ages of 18 and 21, on Wednesday, December 10 at 9:00 a.m. in the Senate Building's North Hearing Room (a tentative hearing has also been planned for the same time and location on Dec. 11, if needed).

The Chairman has indicated that a substitute bill may be offered, and that the bill may receive a vote out of committee!

The Ohio House of Representatives passed HB450 on May 22 with a strong bi-partisan 90-3 vote.

Current Ohio law prohibits persons under the age of 21 from buying a handgun. There is an exemption for persons aged 18-20 who are properly appointed or employed as a law enforcement officer.

The bill would add an exemption for active or reserve members of the armed services or the Ohio National Guard, aged 18-20 who have received firearms training.

The bill was also modified by the House to address questions about the residency of Ohioans who deploy to other states, and people from other states who are stationed in Ohio. The amendment clarifies that persons aged 21 and over in our military, either from Ohio or stationed in Ohio, meet the residency requirements for an Ohio Concealed Carry License (CHL).

Buckeye Firearms Association is calling on the Ohio Senate to move this bill through the legislative process and to pass it into law before the close of the 127th General Assembly on December 31, 2008.

Thank you for responding to our call to use our Write to Legislators website feature to contact your legislators. Please encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Download HB450 as passed by the Ohio House (16 pages)