Concealed weapons legislation goes to Taft

The governor has threatened to veto the bill.
By MICHELE C. HLADIK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- In a late night, end-of-the-year vote, state lawmakers approved legislation that would allow Ohioans to carry concealed handguns, despite concern from Gov. Bob Taft.
The bill's sponsor, state Rep. Jim Aslanides, said he believes the bill has been modified enough to address all major concerns.
"Look, it works in 44 other states," the Coshocton Republican told House members.
"We have all the criteria to make sure it works in Ohio."
It was the first time state lawmakers in both chambers have sent a bill to the governor that would allow Ohioans to carry concealed weapons.
The Ohio House of Representatives voted 69-27, and the Ohio Senate voted 25-7 to approve the bill after a conference committee approval early in the evening.
Substitute House Bill 12 was originally passed by both chambers earlier this year with a few key differences. Members of both chambers met this fall to hammer out those issues and to try to develop a bill Taft would sign.
Issues
Under dispute were provisions concerning open records, affirmative defense and how the handgun is carried in a vehicle.
The bill would allow Ohioans to carry concealed weapons after obtaining a permit from the county sheriff's office, undergoing a least 12 hours of training and passing a background check.
Changes made by the conference committee included allowing Ohioans to carry with a provisional 90-day permit if they believe their lives are in danger and are in the process of obtaining a full permit.
Changes were also made concerning the way a handgun is transported in a vehicle.
The bill was changed to allow handguns to be carried in a holster when the permit holder is in a car and juveniles under the age of 18 are present.
Taft's concern
Changes to the open records portion of the bill were not significant enough to gain the governor's support.
Jon Allison, Taft's chief of staff, said the governor plans to veto the bill because of its limited open records provisions.
Taft wanted reporters to have access to the names of all permit holders in a county.
Instead, the bill would give reporters access to limited public records on a name-by-name basis.
Three-fifths approval of both the House and Senate are required to override a governor's veto.
"I really hope the governor considers what he would be doing," Aslanides said.
"This was his campaign promise to us."
Aslanides said both the House and Senate are united and have met the concerns of Ohio law enforcement and Taft, including the governor's proposal about public records.
Opponents of the legislation in the House have maintained that the bill would only increase violent crime and that it's more of a rural issue that would create more problems in urban areas.
"We're sending the wrong message to children, especially in the inner city, on how to handle things," said state Rep. Michael DeBose, D-Cleveland.
Supporters have disagreed and said the issue is important and beneficial to both rural and urban areas, but agreed there is a lot of support for the issue in rural areas.
According to state Rep. Keith Faber, R-Celina, many rural police believe a neighbor is more likely to be their first "backup" in some situations.
XContributor: Associated Press