HB12: Senate ''public'' hearings scheduled May 20 & 21

House Bill 12 has been added to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Criminal Justice's agenda for public testimony on May 20 at 10:00 a.m. and May 21 at 9:00 a.m. in the North Hearing Room, Second Floor, Senate Building.

The purpose for Tuesday's hearing for HB12 is, essentially, to hear testimony from The Buckeye State Sheriff's Association (which supports the bill), as well as from the Fraternal Order of Police (a labor union which who oppose some, but not all, of the language in House Bill 12), and from the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ohio Highway Patrol, both of which are considered anti-self-defense, bureaucratic organizations who oppose the bill in any form.

ALERT! In testimony before the Senate committee, anti-self-defense and Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence spokesperson stated that concealed carry reform is a male issue, proven by the fact that no females come to Columbus to testify on behalf of HB12.

Ohioans For Concealed Carry often hears from women who are anxious to be able to protect themselves from violent attack, and wondering what they can do to help.

NOW IS YOUR TIME, LADIES! Individuals (of both genders, of course) wishing to offer testimony on their own behalf are encouraged to testify next week!

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more information:

THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE ONLY CHANCE YOU HAVE TO SPEAK BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

Persons wishing to offer testimony need to contact Senator Austria's office at (614) 466-3780 no later than May 19.

You will requested to submit a text copy of your testimony in advance, and to provide 25 copies at the hearing. Your testimony must be no longer than 3 minutes.

Your presence at this meeting is beneficial to the cause. We highly encourage you to attend this hearing.

If you are interested in providing testimony and don't know what to speak about, consult our Education Guide, or feel free to contact us for talking points at [email protected].

If you wish to fill a seat and deliver hand-written testimony, you can do that as well. There is no requirement to speak.

When attending hearings on HB12 in the Criminal Justice Committee, keep in mind that parking can be found under the building (if you arrive early) or in neighboring parking garages.

Your support for concealed carry reform is needed NOW: gather your friends and car pool to the hearings wearing OFCC shirts and khaki pants or blue jeans. Simply filling a seat in the Gallery through the entire process makes a serious statement of support, and wearing an OFCC shirt makes it perfectly clear why you're there, and what side you're on.

If you need to purchase a Denim or Polo shirt for HB12 hearings, please visit OFCC's online website right away!

NOTE: HB12 can be found on our website in the form of a PDF file (click on the Downloads link from the menu bar at the top of this page, and select Legislation). If you have not obtained it and wish to read the proposed legislation, please feel
free to download a copy. If you have concerns that you find in HB12, please
bring them to our attention: [email protected].