Larry Householder's possible second act brings memories of the fight for Ohio concealed carry

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that Larry Householder, who served as Speaker of the House during the fight to pass Ohio's original concealed carry law, is contemplating a return to the legislature.

From the article:

...[F]ormer Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, a Perry County Republican, is considering whether to seek a return to the House. Term limits sent Householder home in December 2004. Lately, Householder has been taking soundings. He said his decision on whether to run for the legislature will hinge on what his wife and sons think about the idea.

If Householder runs, it would be in the 72nd District (Perry and Coshocton counties, and eastern and southern Licking County). The incumbent, Republican Rep. Bill Hayes, of the Pataskala area, is running for Licking County prosecutor rather than seek re-election in 2016.

The article notes that, in 2002, Householder helped elect 62 Republicans to Ohio's 99-seat House, which was the largest GOP total up to that time since 1969-70. (The House now has 65 Republicans.)

Then-Speaker Householder was a tireless advocate for passage of concealed carry in Ohio, even when a governor of his own party (Bob Taft) did everything he could to stop it.

In late 2002, after the Ohio Senate did Taft's bidding by stuffing House Bill 274 full of poison pill amendments, Householder refused to call his chamber back for a vote on concurrence, instead letting the bill die at the end of session.

Starting afresh in 2003, Householder presided over House Bill 12, which became Ohio's concealed carry law, as it made its way through the legislature. When the Ohio Senate again acted at the behest of Taft by inserting a dangerous "carjacker protection" provision, the Householder's chamber refused to vote for concurrence. Householder was quoted as saying "The Senate has sort of given their authority to the governor, and the governor won’t budge. There’s no point in talking to the Senate. It’s highly unusual to hand all your lawmaking authority to the governor. I guess I'll be talking to the governor. He is our new lawmaker."

That fall, after intense pressure was brought to bear thanks to a Supreme Court ruling upholding the state's ban on concealed carry and subsequent open carry walks across the state, the Senate President finally named conferees and the General Assembly began working on a compromise that could avoid a gubernatorial veto. Taft again moved the goal posts, insisting on a new amendment allowing the media to access the private records of license-holders. Householder announced that he had the votes to override a Taft veto. Senate President Doug White first said he did as well, then waffled, then admitted he hadn't polled his members.

Eventually, the House and Senate passed a compromise version of HB 12 and send it to Taft, who signed it into law. We've been working ever since to "de-Taft" Ohio's concealed carry law.

(Those interested in reading more on the history of the fight to restore and protect Ohioans' gun rights can click to read the Ohio Gun Rights Timeline.)

Should Larry Householder decide to seek a return to office, there is no doubt there will be many gun owners in his district happy to see his name on the ballot again.

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.