Aslanides: Meetings to hone HB12 amendments continue

December 5, 2003
Gannett News Service

COLUMBUS -- Any potential compromise on the bill allowing Ohioans to carry concealed handguns likely will wait until next year, although talks will continue next week.

Rep. Jim Aslanides, R-Coshocton, who is sponsoring the bill, said he and Senate President Doug White agreed the two should meet again next week to discuss amendments in hopes of getting the stalled legislation moving again.

"I'm satisfied we're moving forward and going to meet next week," Aslanides said Thursday afternoon.

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Aslanides, who is chairman of the committee, said he wanted to bring the six members together to vote on amendments dealing with restrictions on carrying guns in vehicles.

But a spokeswoman for White, who named himself to that committee in late October, said the senator saw no reason to move forward because there was no agreement from all parties, including the Ohio Highway Patrol and governor's office.

The Senate version of the gun bill requires guns to be locked away in vehicles if any occupant is younger than age 18. If that's not the case, it requires the gun owner to place the weapon in plain view during a traffic stop.

House members, including Aslanides and House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, have opposed those measures. But the Ohio Highway Patrol has insisted on them, and if the patrol opposes the bill, Gov. Bob Taft said he will oppose it too.

Taft more recently announced he also wants some information about who holds a concealed handgun permit to be public record. In the current bill, all records associated with permitting are confidential or destroyed.

Aslanides is leaving decisions about the public records issue to House and Senate leaders. His amendments will focus on vehicle concerns, establishing a 60-day temporary gun permit, and allowing people to carry guns in cars regardless of who is in the vehicle.

But thus far, it doesn't look like the amendments will satisfy the Highway Patrol.

Patrol Capt. John Born said he met with legislative leaders earlier this week and said none of the proposed bill changes get to the heart of the patrol's concerns -- that people should not have physical contact with a gun during a traffic stop.

Patrol officials would rather see no changes to the Senate-passed version of the bill -- or no bill at all.

"We don't want to change the way our troopers react when they see a weapon," Born said. "We are already at a tactical disadvantage when we approach the car."

Commentary:
Criminals have the "tactical advantage" right now in Ohio, and under the Ohio State Highway Patrol's version of HB12, criminals like Tony Gordon's killer (still at large) would STILL have the tactical advantage.

We are encouraged that legislators are continuing to move forward on negotiations. Bob Taft has made it painfully clear that it is futile to pursue a compromise which will win his approval.

Senator White has indicated that he has the votes to override a veto. It is past time to move forward on a bill that will protect innocent lives, especially those our defenseless children, without Bob Taft.

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