CCW fight colors battle to replace Doug White in Senate District 14

Battle lines are already forming for 2004 state legislative races, and the problem of Senate Republican failures on concealed carry reform is taking center stage from the very beginning.

Senator Doug White (R-14) is viewed by many as Governor Taft's accomplice in poisoning and delaying House Bill 12. White is term-limited, and thus if he desires to stay in politics at all, his best bet may be via an appointment from the governor.

White has not been silent about who he hopes can replace him in his home district. This is neither surprising nor precedent-setting.

What has surprised watchers, however, is that House Speaker Larry Householder has endorsed an alternative candidate for S.D. 14. In letters to White constituents, Householder is stressing what he perceives as one of the key differences between the two candidates is: their strength on the concealed carry reform issue, and their willingness to fight against members of their own party who put politics ahead of principle.

President White's choice is Rep. Tom Niehaus (R-88). Niehaus was a 2002 OFCC PAC endorsee, in the 88th District. In an October press release announcing his candidacy for State Senator in Distict 14, Rep. Niehaus stated "Senator Doug White was an invaluable and trusted advisor throughout this process. He is supporting my candidacy."

Speaker Householder's choice for a Republican candidate to replace White is Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-66). Schmidt was also a 2002 OFCC PAC endorsee, in the 88th District. Rep. Schmidt recently published an op-ed in the Clermont Sun concerning the concealed carry issue. Click on the "Read More..." link below to view the entire opinion editorial.

The 14th Senate district includes Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Scioto counties, as well as part of Lawrence County.

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Gongwer: CCW at issue in selection of Sen. White's Dist. 14 GOP replacement

Click on the "Read More..." link below for Rep. Schmidt's entire CCW op-ed.

Guest Column
By State Representative Jean Schmidt
September 29, 2003

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON CONCEALED CARRY

Last week the Ohio Supreme Court upheld a state law that prohibits the carrying of concealed weapons in Ohio. The original law banning the concealed carrying of weapons, which dates back to 1859, has been an issue of great debate over the years. The current constitutional question regarding this 144-year-old law stems from a Cincinnati court case that centered on the question of affirmative defense. Common Pleas Judge Ruehlman’s decision in that case widened our right for affirmative defense, allowing residents of Hamilton County to carry a concealed weapon inside their own county for almost two years. The ruling was appealed and his decision upheld until the case went to the Supreme Court, where justices from the high court overturned that decision.

In the past week I have received numerous calls and e-mails regarding this issue, and I want to set the record straight on where the Ohio legislature stands on concealed carry, as well as my own position on the issue.

It is important to note that only a handful of states have laws that ban law-abiding citizens from carrying a concealed weapon. In the 40-plus states that have concealed carry laws, a drop in crime became immediate once the law was adopted. And while Ohioans are currently prohibited from carrying a concealed weapon they can carry such a weapon if they can prove affirmative defense. Affirmative defense implies that a person is in a situation that places them at great risk and under this extreme circumstance they can carry a weapon. Judge Ruehlman made his decision on Ohio’s law banning concealed carry after reviewing a case in which the defendant was proving the need to carry a gun by his right of affirmative defense.

The Ohio legislature has debated this issue for years, and as your state legislator – and a long-time supporter of the right to bear arms – I have had the opportunity to vote twice in support of a concealed carry law. Last year the Ohio House passed a concealed carry bill that was dramatically changed in the Senate. Time ran out before we could reach agreement in a conference committee and we had to wait until the start of a new legislative calendar to again debate the issue. In March of this year, the House once again took the initiative to address the issue and again passed a concealed carry bill.

That measure, House Bill 12, would allow law-abiding Ohioans to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon after passing a background check and proving competency in firearms use. Those who are granted permits would be required to renew them through their county sheriff every four years.

The Senate has, once again, made dramatic changes to the bill. One of those changes centers on the issue of affirmative defense. Remember, in Ohio you have the right to carry a concealed weapon if you can prove affirmative defense. The Senate’s version of concealed carry takes away this fundamental right. Until this issue is resolved, I simply cannot support the Senate’s version of the bill.

Currently, the legislature still has ample time available to work through the changes in this bill through a conference committee. Unfortunately, Senate President Doug White has not appointed Senate members to the conference committee so that we can work out the differences. Until that happens we will not have the opportunity to pass a concealed carry bill in the near future.

Members of the Ohio House stand ready at the table to debate our Senate colleagues on this important issue. Yet, we continue to stand alone. Like most of my constituents, I believe we have the right to bear arms and I support a responsible concealed carry law. Hopefully, Senator White will make the right decision and appoint members of his chamber to the conference committee. Working together, I’m sure that we can establish a responsible concealed carry measure that all sides can agree upon.

To learn more about concealed carry, or to discuss any other state-related matter, please feel free to contact me. You may reach me by e-mailing [email protected], writing to, State Representative Jean Schmidt, at 77 South High Street, 11th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 or calling (614)466-8134.