Taft aides meet with lawmakers about weapons bill
The two lawmakers in charge of getting a concealed weapons bill through the Legislature met with Governor Taft's top aides to try to work out an agreement that will satisfy all sides on the matter.
Representative Jim Aslanides, a Coshocton Republican who sponsored the bill, and Senator Steve Austria, a Beavercreek Republican who carried the bill in the Senate, met for about an hour with Taft's aides yesterday. Talks continued last night between representatives of the Senate, House, and governor’s office as lawmakers moved toward recessing for the summer.
Taft supports the Senate version of the bill, but not the House version. It's the first time Taft has supported any bill allowing Ohioans to carry hidden guns.
The Senate version would allow loaded guns in cars if they were in plain sight or locked in storage. It also would allow a person without a permit, who is charged with carrying a concealed weapon, to use as a defense that it was necessary because the person had a protective order in a case of domestic violence or another threat-related crime.
Aslanides prefers current law, which allows people charged with carrying a concealed weapon to convince a prosecutor or judge that the weapon was needed because of their job, or for their personal safety.
The State Highway Patrol opposes that idea, and Taft said the patrol's support is crucial to his own. Changes made by the Senate led the patrol to drop its opposition to the bill.
Aslanides says that the meeting went well and that another one may take place Wednesday.
He says there's a strong willingness to get work done on the bill.
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OFCC PAC Commentary:
Speaker Larry Householder (R., Glenford), points out that under Am. Sub. HB12, "If you have a business and you carry money on you, you could walk down the street with $10,000 and a concealed weapon to protect yourself, but once you get in your car, you can’t. That’s got to change."
Rep. Aslanides was quoted in today's Cleveland Plain Dealer as saying he wants to know why the Ohio State Highway Patrol insists on a provision that no other state requires in their concealed carry law.
Wouldn't we all?
"I don't see a strong logical or statistical reason to remove affirmative defense from a motor vehicle," he said. "I've listened to the arguments of the Highway Patrol, and I just don't see it.
"It's a weak argument at best."
Aslanides hopes Taft finds the bill acceptable to enough to at least allow it to become law without his signature. If such a compromise occurs, it likely won't happen until after the summer break.
An even greater question is this - why is the Governor of this state allowing a few law enforcement bureaucrats to hold this process hostage? And why would anyone promote a law which would effectively paint targets on vehicles with children on board?
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