Your Ohio legislators need to hear from you

When the 127th General Assembly was sworn in at the beginning of 2007, there were high hopes among gun owners. Although Republicans lost their super-majorities in both chambers of the legislature, Ohio voters had preserved a strong pro-gun majority in the House and Senate, and for the first time in recent memory, they had elected a truly pro-gun Governor in Democrat Ted Strickland.

More than half of the tenure of the 127th General Assembly is now over, and soon gun owners will once again be called upon to support their elected officials through volunteering, campaign donations, spreading the word to friends and family, etc.

Unfortunately, progress on several emergency action items and other pro-gun legislation has been incredibly slow, and unless significant progress is made in the coming months, it is highly unlikely that gun owners are going to be willing to pour their blood, sweat and tears into the 2008 campaigns.

The Legislature seems to think Ohio gun owners are fine with the lack of progress on our many issues. If you do not feel this way, it is time for you to let your legislators know.

To help in this endeavor, Buckeye Firearms Association is continuing a campaign to assist gun owners in contacting their state representatives and senators regarding the lack of legislative progress on specific topics relating to gun ownership.

Emergency Action Item - Unloaded Transportation of Firearms

Issue: The General Assembly made unloaded transportation of a handgun in Ohio illegal, and unloaded transportation of other firearms is a confusing trap for the unwary.

Impact: All firearm owners and persons visiting Ohio with firearms. (Not a concealed carry issue.)

For Specifics, download the official white paper here. (.pdf)

Emergency Action Item - CHL School Safety Zone Exclusion

Issue: Ohio’s School Safety Zone statute, R.C. § 2923.122, is a hopeless morass.

Impact: All firearm owners and their children, Concealed Handgun License Holders and their children, teachers and school officials.

For Specifics, download the official white paper here. (.pdf)

Emergency Action Item - Criminal Exposure for CCW in Home

Issue: HB12 created unintended criminal exposure for having a concealed handgun in your own home.

Impact: All firearm owners and persons visiting Ohio with firearms. (Not a concealed carry issue.)

For Specifics, download the official white paper here. (.pdf)

Emergency Action Item - CHLs Confused by Liquor Premises Statute

Issue: Ohio’s statute dealing with firearms in liquor establishments is archaic and was drafted prior to widespread, licensed concealed carry. As a result of this older drafting, the statute applies in many situations that were not intended.

Impact: All firearm owners, but predominantly hunters, sport shooters and concealed carry licensees.

For Specifics, download the official white paper here. (.pdf)

BuckeyeFirearms.org's Write to Legislators feature allows concerned Ohioans to write their elected officials, even if they don't know who they are.

Please take a moment to use our Write To Legislators feature to contact your State Representative and Senator. As always, feel free to modify our letter and make it your own, but remember to always keep it polite and professional.

After you have contacted your state representative and senator, please help us spread the word to other gun owners. Many issues, including this one, effect ALL gun owners.

We need your help in getting as many people as possible to contact their legislators if we are to get any bills passed in the remaining months of this session.