Handgun law affects off-duty officers

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Off-duty police officers would not be required to obtain permits to carry hidden guns, but they would face the same restrictions as permit-holders going to bars, day-care centers and government buildings, according to an opinion issued Monday by Attorney General Jim Petro.
Under the 3-month-old law, people are prohibited from carrying concealed handguns into places where liquor is served, inside a school safety zone and certain other buildings. An off-duty officer could carry a concealed weapon into some restricted buildings if conducting official business, Petro said.
The officer would face the same restrictions as permit holders in a vehicle, keeping the weapon locked in a container or inside a holster in plain view, the opinion said.
Applicants for permits must pass a criminal background check, must not have been committed involuntarily to a mental health facility and must complete a 12-hour safety course.
The opinion is an interpretation of the law but subject to a judge's ruling in a specific case. Petro issued the opinion at the request of Lorain County Prosecutor Gary Bennett.