ALERT: ODOT notifies Buckeye Firearms Assoc. visitor center "NO GUNS" signs to come down

On October 30, Buckeye Firearms Association was pleased to report that the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) had ordered all NO GUNS signs at state rest stops to be removed.

Buckeye Firearms Association has just received word that Chief Legal Counsel Cathy Cola Perkins has confirmed that "the signs will be coming down in the visitor centers as well."

The original directive instructing the removal of signs was issued on October 24, 2008 by Chief Legal Counsel Perkins, and read as follows:

SB 184 (eff. 9-9-08) amended the concealed carry laws to no longer prohibit licensees from carrying a concealed weapon in government facilities that are primarily used as shelters, restrooms, parking facilities for motor vehicles, or rest facilities. After consultation with the Attorney General's office and the Governor's office, it is my opinion that while ODOT may have state employees regularly present at these facilities for the purpose of performing their official duties, ODOT's roadside safety rest areas are primarily used as shelters, restrooms, parking and rest facilities and therefore, qualify as government facilities exempt from the concealed carry restrictions of ORC 2923.126 and ORC 2923.1212. With the new amendments, it is no longer permissible to post in such locations any signs that contain a statement which would restrict a valid licensee of a concealed weapon from entering a shelter, restroom, parking or rest facilities. Therefore I recommend that any signs currently posted on the grounds or buildings at all roadside safety rest areas be removed as soon as possible.

Buckeye Firearms Association's October 30 report, ODOT notifies Buckeye Firearms Assoc. rest stop “NO GUNS” signs to come down, was published in direct response to our awareness of this directive.

Gary Wilhelm, Deputy Director of Facilities and Equipment for ODOT's District 19 responded via email to Chief Legal Counsel Perkins later that same day:

Thank you, Cathy. I will ask Mark Spagnuolo to disseminate this to the proper district personnel to remove the signs.

Mark: The signs should be removed as soon as possible, but without a special dispatch of personnel. I assume these removals will be done by district personnel, not by the CRP's. Thanks!

An email response from Vicki Ashley, Facility Programs Manager in the ODOT Office of Facilities Management was sent on November 3, and read as follows:

All,

Appropriate district personnel have been notified regarding the above and are to notify OFM once the task has been completed. Once notification of completion has been received your office will be notified. Thank you!

Since our report, Buckeye Firearms Association has continued to receive reports of locations with signs that have not yet been removed, along with questions of when they will be taken down.

Earlier this morning, Buckeye Firearms Association has received word through Heather Sullivan, ODOT Assistant Legal Counsel, that Mr. Wilhelm has indicated that "the signs should all be down within 30 days." Furthermore, in addressing a question of whether or not ODOT visitor centers fall under the directive, Sullivan has informed BFA that according to Chief Legal Counsel Perkins, "the signs will be coming down in the visitor centers as well."

We wish to thank the many supporters who have contacted us with questions on this issue. The all-volunteer leadership of Buckeye Firearms Association will continue to monitor the progress being made, and will publish any further updates as necessary.