Restaurant & car carry rules fix legislation (re)introduced in Senate

Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) today announced that a bill refining concealed carry statutes has been introduced in the Ohio Senate. The bill, which contains language from SB239 in the 128th General Assembly, is designed to update Ohio's current concealed carry laws to make them more consistent with those in other states.

Senator Tim Schaffer (R- Lancaster) introduced SB17 which will allow citizens who hold a valid concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry a firearm in restaurants. To do so, license holders may not consume any alcohol and must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to OpenCarry.org, 42 states (including every state that borders Ohio) allow non-drinking license holders to carry firearms in restaurants.

The bill also reduces burdensome restrictions regarding how a license holder must transport a firearm in a car. Currently, Ohio is the only state to place such complex limitations on license holders. Violation of these restrictions can result in felony charges that are mostly of an "administrative" nature and do not involve any intent to do harm. Still, violation of these complex rules can result in costly court proceedings and incarceration for the license holder.

The Senate bill is consponsored by Senators Beagle, Cafaro, Daniels, Faber, Grendell, Jones, Jordan, Manning, Oelslager, Seitz, Wilson, and Widener.

SB17 has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary – Criminal Justice, which is chaired by BFA "A+" - rated Sen. Tim Grendell.

An indentical bill was introduced last week in the Ohio House by Representatives Danny Bubp (R-West Union) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) as HB45. That bill was recently assigned to the House committee on State Government and Elections, which is chaired by BFA "A" -rated Rep. Bob Mecklenborg.

We welcome these legislators' enthusiasm, and look forward to them passing this bill, which passed in the Senate last session and obviously has the support of a majority of citizens and legislature, but was blocked from passage last session by outgoing Speaker Armond Budish (D-Beachwood). We are also encouraged by their assurances that Governor Kasich will sign the bills.

For more information and the full text of the bill, visit:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_SB_17