Ohio CHL Reciprocity Update

Beginning last week, Ohioans For Concealed Carry began learning that a number of states have announced that reciprocity agreements have been reached with Ohio regarding the recognition of concealed handgun licenses.

While encouraged by the news, we have chosen not to publicize this information, because no official announcement has yet come from the Ohio Attorney General's office. Until it comes, non-Ohio licensees will not be recognized by law enforcement in our state.

Deputy Attorney General Jonathan Fulkerson today advised OFCC as follows:

No matter what other states may put out on the Internet, we do not have an
agreement until the Attorney General has an original, signed reciprocity
contract in his physical possession. I am aware that some states have not
yet mailed back their contracts and have started making announcements.

Until we get those signed contracts, we can't say officially whether or not
a particular state will recognize Ohio CCW licenses and vice versa. Some
states may require modifications to the agreements to smooth out the
legalese. I'm very concerned about making an announcement only to have a
particular state's agreement delayed, modified or scrapped because of
contract language. The Attorney General wants to minimize any confusion on
this issue.

The Attorney General will make an official announcement as soon as we have
something in writing from each state."

Ohioans For Concealed Carry is pleased that progress is being made. We wish to urge caution: other states' announcements are subject to confirmation by the Attorney General, and these agreements are not yet official.

As with other such news, interested persons may count on Ohioans For Concealed Carry's website (www.ohioccw.org) to have the announcement early (perhaps first!), when it becomes official.

UPDATE! Deputy AG Jonathan Fulkerson has again contacted OFCC, with some excellent news!

"Florida and Washington state will be announced today on our website as
official reciprocity states as of June 29, 2004."

7/2/04 - Michigan has now been added! Click here to access the Attorney General's reciprocity website.