COLUMBUS Differences delay gun bill

Democrats intend to appoint state Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty to the panel.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Differences among law-enforcement groups are holding up final passage of a bill that would allow law-abiding Ohioans to carry concealed handguns, the bill's chief House sponsor said Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Senate took steps to appoint its members of a joint House-Senate conference committee that will try to iron out differences between versions passed by each chamber.
State Rep. James Aslanides, a Coshocton Republican and the prime sponsor of the bill, said he hopes law enforcement groups can reach an accord on a proposal soon.
The primary area of difference is how a gun in a car should be treated, Aslanides said.
"The Ohio [State Highway] Patrol wants it off the person and in plain sight," Aslanides said. "Other law-enforcement groups don't like the gun off the person and made accessible to others in the car.
"We think law enforcement needs to work out their differences," Aslanides said. "We think there's an environment to get that done."
Aslanides said he has been told by leaders of the GOP-led House that he would likely chair a conference committee on the bill. He said a conference committee would be convened as soon as an agreement could be hammered out.
Concealed-carry permit
Under the bill, Ohioans who pass a background check and complete safety training would be able to buy a concealed-carry permit from a county sheriff.
Changes made in the Senate version led the OSHP to drop its opposition to the measure.
According to a letter from state patrol Superintendent Paul D. McClellan, the patrol supported changes in the Senate version of the bill, including allowing loaded guns in cars if they were in plain sight or locked in storage.
Both the House and Senate have passed their versions of the bill.
In the Senate on Tuesday, GOP Senate leaders insisted on their changes to the bill, the first step to appointing a conference committee on the bill.
A spokeswoman for Senate President Doug White, a Manchester Republican, said he intended later this week to appoint himself and state Sen. Scott Nein, a Middletown Republican, as the Senate GOP representatives on the conference committee.
Minority Senate Democrats intend to appoint state Sen. Marc Dann, a Trumbull County Democrat, as their representative on the panel.
It wasn't immediately known whom the GOP-led House would appoint to a concealed-carry conference committee.
Governor's position
Orest Holubec, a spokesman for Republican Gov. Bob Taft, said the governor's position on the issue hasn't changed.
Holubec said he wouldn't sign a concealed-carry bill into law unless it contained background checks, training provisions and support from law enforcement groups.
Dann said he believes there is a will in the Legislature to enact a concealed-carry bill before the end of the year.
"I'd like to see if we can get this issue off the table," Dann said. He believes there could either be support to develop a version of the bill that the governor could support or support to override a potential gubernatorial veto.
A three-fifths majority is required in both legislative houses to override a veto.