Wapakoneta Daily News: CCW Bill Returns

"A bill allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons reintroduced last week into the state House has a better chance of passage this year," local representative Rep. Derrick Seaver (D-Minster) says, despite differing little from the measure that died [after being gutted in the Senate] last session.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for a great interview with Democrat Rep. Derrick Seaver, concerning the outlook for HB12.

“I believe the bill could be improved,” Seaver said. “The fee for licensure, I think, are a little overreaching. They are asking a person to pay a $45 license fee, and if I read this bill correctly, one of the few changes from last time is they are going to want renewal fees on the license.”

Seaver co-sponsored HB12, which was introduced by Rep. Jim Aslanides, R-Coshocton, Jan. 28 along with 54 bipartisan co-sponsors. The measure would allow citizens who meet certain requirements to carry concealed weapons.

Seaver supports the bill because other states that permit citizens to carry a concealed weapon have recorded a drastic reduction in crime rates.

“I think it makes a lot of common sense, if you think about it,” Seaver said. “If you are a criminal and it is your goal to prey on innocent people, you will be a lot more reluctant to do that if they might be armed.”

He said it is a strong public safety bill and that there were “no Wild West shootouts, it was quite the opposite.”

“There really hasn’t been many substantial changes from the bill that was passed out the House the last time,” Seaver said during a phone interview Thursday from his office in Columbus. “The bill that was passed last time didn’t meet much opposition; it was passed with 66 votes, which is a very strong majority. It wasn’t until it got to the Senate did we see some trouble.”

Seaver said he believes the biggest obstacle again this time is the Senate passing the bill.

“I know they have the votes to pass it, as far as who has publicly said they support it,” Seaver said. “I know that new Senate President Doug White is a supporter of concealed and carry, where Dick Finan was never too publicly warm to the idea. I think that improves the climate, but I couldn’t say for sure.”

Click here to read the full story in the Wapakoneta Daily News.

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