Aslanides: Expect ''fix-it'' legislation for Ohio CHL law this summer

The Associated Press is reporting that legislators are ready to revisit the year-old Ohio concealed handgun license law to address complaints that rules about guns in cars are too strict and journalists should not have access to lists of permit-holders.

And according to the story, despite the fact that her first round of dire predictions have been proven 100% wrong, Ohio gun ban extremist Toby Hoover told the AP she fears the effort will lead to even more changes that would endanger public safety.

From the story:

Aslanides has met with representatives of the Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and other law enforcement groups about carrying guns in cars, applying for licenses and clarifying the law concerning where off-duty officers can carry concealed guns. He expects to introduce legislation this summer.

He advocates elimination of the rule that [license] holders must either lock up their gun while in a car or keep it visible to others in the car and to police officers who approach the car. Some opponents of the restriction say removal of the gun from its holster increases the chance of an accidental shooting, but Aslanides feels the law is unevenly enforced.

"I'm more concerned with the way officers have the ability to arrest practically anyone because they say they can't see it clearly," Aslanides said.

[License] holders carrying guns in cars would still be required to tell approaching officers that they had permits and were armed, he said.

According to the AP report, the State Highway Patrol is showing early signs of resistance to fixing the "plain sight" provision as well, but in the process of addressing these proposals, the OSHP too is being forced to admit that it was wrong about its dire predictions regarding this now-successful program.

"We haven't seen any adverse problems on the side of permit holders at large, or dealing with weapons in vehicles," OSHP spokesman Lt. Rick Zwayer is quoted as saying. Yet Zwayer said the patrol sees no reason to remove the provision that guns must be locked or visible in cars.

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The AP notes that in 2003, the Highway Patrol's opposition to concealed weapons in cars led Gov. Bob Taft to threaten a veto unless the patrol was satisfied, and that Taft also opposed the idea of restricting the access the media have to CHL-holders' private information. However, Aslanides noted that the publication of the names creates concerns for the safety of CHL-holders and their families, but told the AP he didn't yet know how his bill would change access.

Again, from the story:

Taft still thinks media access to permit holders' names is important and doesn't see a reason to change it, spokesman Mark Rickel said.

"He believes media access to the list ensures the accountability of the permitting process," Rickel said. "That was a deal-breaker."

Toby Hoover of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence said once lawmakers revisit the law, proponents will want to expand the list of places people can carry concealed guns. Currently, churches, day-care centers, bars and public buildings are off-limits.

"They're going down the slippery slope they predicted they would," Hoover said.


Aslanides insisted that increasing the number of places people could carry hidden guns is not a priority in legislation he expects to introduce after lawmakers finish work on the $51 billion budget for the two years beginning July 1.

Rep. Tom Brinkman, a Cincinnati Republican, also has reintroduced his bill that would lift most restrictions on carrying guns - an idea legislative leaders have twice rejected - and Rep. Bill Seitz, another Cincinnati Republican, is considering an amendment in a public records bill that would restrict journalists' access.

CLICK HERE TO ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS TO MAKE OHIO'S CONCEALED CARRY LAW MORE USER-FRIENDLY.