FOX Cleveland examines proposal to allow concealed carry on college campuses

WJW (Fox Cleveland) recently published a report on Rep. Ron Maag's (R-Lebanon) HB 48, which seeks to restore Ohioans right to bear concealed firearms on college campuses, places of worship, day-care facilities, private airplanes, school safety zones and certain government buildings. The report focused specifically on campus carry, and featured an interview with Buckeye Firearms Association President Jim Irvine.

From the article:

Proponents of the change argue that universities are a ‘victim zone’ where defenseless students are more vulnerable to crime or to threats from people with evil intent.

Jim Irvine, the President of Buckeye Firearms Association, is among the supporters.

“The prohibition tells the person who wants to do a mass killing that this is a safe place for them to commit their crime, when we look at where the worst mass killings happen they are all in ‘victim zone’ places, they are all in a place where the victims cant shoot back, which makes sense,” said Irvine.

The bill would not open the doors to concealed carry on every campus. It would, however, allow each college to decide for itself if it would allow people with CCW licenses to carry their weapons on campus.

WJW also interviewed several colleges students, as well as a concealed carry instructor who expressed concern about whether or not there is adequate mandatory training in the law. The instructor, Richard Starr, offered no explanation for why he believes Ohioans are less responsible than their neighbors in Indiana and Pennsylvania, who have zero hours mandatory training and zero problems.

Again from WJW:

But supporters believe campus crimes including sexual assaults and shootings like the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech in which 32 people were killed, 17 more injured are less likely to happen if colleges allow concealed carry.

“You can’t go kill 30 people if somebody in the room can stop you. You have to go to a place where nobody has the ability to stop you if what you want to do is set a new high score, a record for bodies killed,” said Irvine.

There’s still places where a person shouldn’t be able to carry a gun,” he added. “On the secure side of the airports, in courtrooms in detention facilities. There are places where for the public good it makes sense to put that restruction on but what is the public good in not allowing you to carry in your place of work? None. It’s not going to stop a criminal but it does stop a law abiding person from being able to defend themselves,” said Irvine.

Irvine concluded by saying “Ohio law has a long way to go on this, House Bill 48 won’t fix it all but it will move us a step in the right direction.”​

Buckeye Firearms Association maintains a vigilant watch on gun legislation in Ohio. Stay tuned for updates as this legislation receives additional hearings.

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.

Additional Information:

Wall Street Journal - Measures to Broaden Gun-Carry Rights on College Campuses Falter

Jennifer Baker, a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, [said] “Permit holders are more law-abiding than the general public, and there’s just no reason their constitutional rights should stop at the borders of a college or university.”