OHIO LEGISLATURE Senate votes late to OK concealed-carry bill

Representatives won't be called back for a vote unless Taft indicates he'll sign the bill, the House speaker said.
By MICHELE C. HLADIK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Last-second attempts to pass legislation allowing Ohioans to carry concealed firearms may have died Tuesday in the Ohio Legislature.
The Ohio Senate voted 20-11 Tuesday to approve the bill, but the vote may have come too late. Changes to the bill would need the approval of the Ohio House of Representatives, which adjourned for this legislative session and is not due back until the new session begins in January.
According to House spokeswoman Jen Detwiler, House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, will consider calling representatives back to the House only if Gov. Bob Taft gives "a very clear indication" he would sign the legislation.
Law enforcers' opinions
In the past, Taft has maintained he would not sign the legislation without the support of the state's leading law-enforcement groups.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police continue to oppose the bill. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police have stopped short of offering support, simply saying they no longer oppose the bill.
But recently, Taft spokesman Joe Andrews said Taft would not make any decision on the bill until he sees the changes.
"He's not going to say until he sees the bill, so no, it's not likely" the House will return, Andrews said.
State Rep. Jim Aslanides, who sponsored the bill, said he respects Householder's decision.
Aslanides, R-Coshocton, said it would be difficult to regain the support of House members if Taft does not agree to sign the bill.
The representative said he wouldn't comment on the changes in the legislation until he's had a chance to review them, but he said he thinks the Senate tried to find balance on the issue.
Provisions
The substitute bill would allow Ohioans to carry a concealed firearm with a permit. Obtaining the permit would involve a background check.
Under the newest version of the bill, fingerprints and Social Security numbers would be required for a background check before a permit is issued. The fingerprints would then be destroyed.
The bill also prohibits fugitives and those convicted of assaulting a peace officer from obtaining a permit. Those convicted of violent misdemeanors can apply to obtain a permit to carry only after 10 years.
The current version of the bill requires 12 hours of training and includes range training and information on when the use of deadly force is acceptable. The applicant must also be able to demonstrate proficiency with the firearm.
Gun groups' response
Two gun-rights groups are happy the measure failed and think the state should wait before passing any legislation until the Ohio Supreme Court rules on whether the state laws against carrying a concealed weapon are unconstitutional.
"We're very comfortable with waiting for the Supreme Court," said Doug Joseph, executive director of the Ohio Gun Rights Coalition and Ohio state liaison for the Gun Owners of America. He said the court's decision would either allow Ohioans to carry concealed firearms freely or would point to the need for new legislation.
"I don't think there's any reason to rush this through," he said of the bill, which was introduced in the House more than 18 months ago. The legislation languished in the House for several months before being passed to the Senate, where it stalled until recently.
"They're kind of jumping the gun just for the sake of saying, 'We did something,'" Joseph said of the Ohio Senate.