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Coalition urges bar owners to ban guns
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Opponents of a new state law allowing Ohioans to carry hidden firearms into bars and restaurants are urging patrons to contact businesses in their area to block the practice.
Liberal advocacy group ProgressOhio, the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence and others hope businesses that serve alcohol will instead place signs on their doors notifying customers that guns are not welcome.
“It seems to me that ideology and politics have trumped common sense here,” said Brian Rothenberg, executive director of ProgressOhio. “In the process of the Legislature doing this, they were bowing to powerful lobbies like the NRA, even though most people, even children, know that you shouldn’t mix alcohol and guns. It just leads to violence.”
But firearms advocates say such comments are not based on facts.
“Ever since concealed- carry passed, we were hearing these doom and gloom predictions from the folks opposed to it,” said Rick Kaleda, a Youngstown resident and Northeast Ohio chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association.
“Responsible citizens are going to behave like responsible citizens, and that’s who we’re talking about with these [concealed carry] licenses.”
Concealed carry law changes were passed by state lawmakers, signed into law by Gov. John Kasich in June and took effect Friday.
The legislation included provisions related to transporting firearms in motor vehicles and carrying them into businesses that serve alcohol.
On the former, loaded handguns now can be carried in motor vehicles “regardless of whether [they are] secured in a holster, case, bag or box.”
Permit holders now can carry firearms into bars, restaurants, open-air arenas and other businesses that serve alcohol as long as they are not consuming or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Affected businesses can choose to prohibit firearms on their premises by posting a sign.
Proponents of the changes said the former state law was too confusing and could have led to concealed carry permit holders unknowingly breaking the law.
doesn’t make any sense.”