House Bill 228 passes Ohio House [UPDATED: VOTE TALLIES]

Editor's Note: This article is being updated as additional information becomes available.

HB 228 (Fix Burden of Proof/ Concealed Carry Modernization), sponsored by Representatives Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) and Sarah LaTourette (R-Chesterland) has passed out of the Ohio House by a vote of 65 to 32.

Rep. Johnson thanked those who worked directly with legislators over the last two years to pass the bill, including Buckeye Firearms Association, Ohioans for Concealed Carry, BFA Board President Jim Irvine, the NRA, and NRA and BFA Board Members Sean Maloney and Linda Walker.

Before it was passed, the House defeated an attempt by a Democrat representative to amend the bill to insert gun control provisions desired by Governor John Kasich (R).

The concealed carry modernization bill has been debated extensively for over a year, and key provisions have been discussed for almost eight years in the legislature.

If enacted, the bill would:

• Correct Ohio law on burden of proof. Currently the Federal Government, U.S. territories, and 49 states have the burden of proving someone committed a crime to convict them and deny them their rights. The same is true in Ohio, in almost every situation. This change simply makes Ohio like every other state, and prosecution of someone who wrongly claims self-defense like every other criminal prosecution. Innocent until proven guilty. Simple stuff and the most important aspect of this bill.
• Eliminate “duty to retreat” from some sections of code. In Ohio and many other states, a person attacked in their home or car may defend their life. But in Ohio there are “duties” of the crime victim if they are in their own driveway between their home and car. Eliminating the “duty to retreat” will make the standard for defending one’s life uniform and not dependent on where the victim happens to be when they are attacked. It is important to note that it does not change the standard of what constitutes a deadly force threat or what constitutes a legal use of deadly force in self-defense or defense of another.
• Add a requirement that hands must be in plain sight “unless impractical” for license holders during an official stop by police. There are times when complying with officer’s instructions and the law are impossible to do at the same time.
• Eliminate the requirement of places that allow concealed carry to post signs prohibiting concealed carry. Yes, current law is that insane. Another fix that everyone should support.
• Prohibit public housing from denying tenants their right to lawfully-possessed firearms.
• Provide for a safe harbor for a spouse or other unlicensed individual driving a car that another person has left a firearm in.
• Eliminate the requirement for license holders to carry a second form of ID while in possession of a firearm.
• Increase penalties for people illegally buying a gun to sell to a prohibited person.
• Modernize Ohio’s definition of a shotgun to match Federal law and allow for possession of guns that are specifically approved by BATFE (such as the Mossberg Shockwave).

It has taken almost 23 months to get half way through the process. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it will need committee hearings, a committee vote, a full Senate floor vote. Then, if there are any changes it will go back to the House for a concurrence vote before moving on to the Governor. Any bills not enacted before the end of the year die and the entire process must start over again.

There is a lot of work to be done, but we are optimistic that a majority of the legislators see the need to make these common-sense changes to Ohio law. Our opponents will try to delay, distract, and confuse knowing that our timeline is tight, and the margin of error is very small. We are grateful to our members and supporters who by speaking with one clear voice help legislators see through the nonsense resistance to move this important legislation.

We thank Speaker Smith for his leadership, Chairwoman Kristina Roegner and members of the House Federalism and Interstate Relations Committee, and every Representative who voted to pass this important legislation.

We look forward to working with the Ohio Senate and interested parties to further review this legislation and answer questions about it. Stay tuned to Buckeye Firearms Association for updates as the legislative process proceeds.

Jim Irvine is the Buckeye Firearms Association President, BFA PAC Chairman and recipient of the NRA-ILA's 2011 "Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award," the CCRKBA's 2012 "Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award," and the SAF's 2015 "Defender of Freedom Award."

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Consideration of the bill begins at 35:45

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VOTE TALLIES:

The question recurring, "Shall the bill pass?"

The yeas and nays were taken and resulted – yeas 65, nays 32, as follows:

Those who voted in the affirmative were: Representatives
Anielski, Antani, Arndt, Becker, Blessing, Brenner, Brinkman, Butler, Carfagna, Cera, Cupp, Dever, DeVitis, Duffey, Edwards, Faber, Gavarone, Ginter, Green, Greenspan, Hagan, Hambley, Henne, Hill, Hood, Hoops, Householder, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, Keller, Kick, Koehler, Landis, Lanese, Lang, LaTourette, Lipps, Manning, McClain, Merrin, Patton, Pelanda, Perales, Reineke, Retherford, Riedel, Roegner, Romanchuk, Ryan, Schaffer, Scherer, Schuring, Seitz, Slaby, Smith, T., Sprague, Stein, Thompson, Vitale, Wiggam, Wilkin, Young, Zeltwanger, Smith R. - 65

Those who voted in the negative were: Representatives
Antonio, Ashford, Barnes, Boccieri, Boggs, Boyd, Brown, Celebrezze, Clyde, Craig, Galonski, Gonzales, Holmes, Howse, Ingram, Kelly, Kent, Leland, Lepore-Hagan, Miller, O'Brien, Patmon, Patterson, Ramos, Reece, Rogers, Sheehy, Smith, K., Strahorn, Sweeney, Sykes, West - 32

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Media Coverage:

Cincinnati Enquirer - Ohio House passes 'stand your ground' bill, sending it to the Senate for approval

The Buckeye Firearms Association and other supporters argue the bill makes common-sense changes to Ohio's gun laws.

Cleveland Plain Dealer - Ohio House passes ‘stand your ground’ legislation after Speaker shuts down objection of black lawmaker

Columbus Dispatch - Ohio House GOP comes out of the gate with gun, abortion legislation

Dayton Daily News - ‘Stand your ground’ gun bill passes Ohio House

Jim Irvine, Buckeye Firearms Association board president, said he hopes the bill moves swiftly through the Senate.

“If they don’t get to it soon they’re not going to get to it at all,” he said. “Obviously it’s a lame duck (session) and it’s a compressed time frame. We’re cautiously optimistic the Senate will take it up.”

The bill would need to pass by the end of the year or it would have to be brought back after new legislators and Gov.-elect Mike DeWine are sworn in in January.

Irvine said the bill corrects much in Ohio law.

“To us, this is really simple. Ohio law is contrary to federal law and every other state law,” Irvine said. “Ohio law is wrong and it’s defective and it needs to get fixed.”

Irvine said he knows Gov. John Kasich plans to veto the bill it if passes the Senate.

“That’s his prerogative as governor, but I think it’s sad that our governor is adamant that he would veto a bill saying people aren’t innocent until proven guilty.”

The bill also loosens other gun laws, including striking a rule that concealed handgun licensees keep hands in plain site during law enforcement stops. It also bars rental agreements for subsidized housing from prohibiting or restricting the ownership, use, or possession of a firearm within a dwelling.

The bill has backing from pro-gun rights groups such as Ohio Gun Owners and Buckeye Firearms Association but it is opposed by the ACLU of Ohio, League of Women Voters of Ohio, Moms Demand Action, Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence and March for Our Lives.

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If Gov. Kasich vetoes the bill, Republicans say there is enough support to override a veto.

Gongwer News Service - Divisive Firearm Bill Clears House After Contentious Debate

Ohio Public Radio - Ohio House Speaker Silences Debate On 'Stand Your Ground' Gun Bill

Statehouse News Bureau - Gun Bill Passes Ohio House But Not Without A Lot Of Controversy

Toledo Blade - House sets up confrontation with governor over guns, abortion