CCW In Ohio Law Changes

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Reloadron

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The CCW laws in Ohio have changed many times since Ohio began permitting CCW. The latest change I see as good but with a few mixed feelings. A simple Google of Ohio CCW Veterans will get about a dozen hits with this being just an example of the changes.

There is much more to it. Not only are all initial fees waived but renewal fees as well. Additionally previously Ohio mandated what I believe was a 12 hour mandatory course of instruction including proficiency, safety and Ohio laws. That was recently reduced to 8 hours. Under the new changes active duty military as well as all military veterans honorably discharged will have the training waived. So all in all veterans are not required to take the CCW course or pay the CCW license fees.

My mixed views come from the fact that while most of the CCW course of instruction is proficiency and safety knowing the laws is a good thing. For veterans it's a good thing but having served about 10 years in the Marine Corps many veterans I know never used a weapon, were required to qualify with a weapon or were required to be familiar with a weapon. While I was in Vietnam and got to visit DaNang while the Army and Marines were all armed the only Air Force guys with guns were the AP (Air Police) who had S&W 38 Spl revolvers. Overall I see this as another improvement in Ohio law so unlike states which have constitutional carry at least the veterans now get a break.

Ron
 
For as much as I dislike Kasich, at least we can count on him to sign most pro-gun bills that make it to his desk. His “assault weapon ban” rhetoric is scary, but he seems to at least still be friendly to conceal carry.
 
There is much more to it. Not only are all initial fees waived but renewal fees as well. Additionally previously Ohio mandated what I believe was a 12 hour mandatory course of instruction including proficiency, safety and Ohio laws. That was recently reduced to 8 hours. Under the new changes active duty military as well as all military veterans honorably discharged will have the training waived. So all in all veterans are not required to take the CCW course or pay the CCW license fees.
The training requirement is not simply "waived". Only active duty military who "have documentation of successful firearms training that meets or exceeds that required of Ohio licensees" are exempt from the training requirement. https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov...aled-Handgun-License-Information-for-Armed-Fo If they cannot present evidence of that training, they must still take a CCW course.
 
The new veterans concessions are nice. As a native ohioan and military veteran of over a decade, it was hard to make it home for a ccw class. During that time i got a florida non-resident permit. Qualification on the m9 and military service was enough.
 
The training requirement is not simply "waived". Only active duty military who "have documentation of successful firearms training that meets or exceeds that required of Ohio licensees" are exempt from the training requirement. https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov...aled-Handgun-License-Information-for-Armed-Fo If they cannot present evidence of that training, they must still take a CCW course.
Yes, I understand all of that:
As a member of the armed forces, you may not need to obtain a concealed handgun license to carry under certain circumstances. If you are an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States and you have a valid military identification card and you have documentation of successful firearms training that meets or exceeds that required of Ohio licensees, you do not need to obtain an Ohio license.

My point was with the new changes as of a few days ago when the Governor allowed HB 235 to pass without his signature that veterans will have the CCW permit fees waived and also the required CCW training. In part the story reads:
Ohio Gov. John Kasich is allowing a bill that waives concealed carry registration fees for active military members and honorably discharged veterans to take effect without his signature.
This was all part of HB 235 which as of a few days ago became law. While HB 235 is a rather long read, it reads in part:
To amend section 2923.125 of the Revised Code to waive the concealed carry license fee for active members of the armed forces and retired and honorably discharged veterans and to accept military experience with firearms as proof of competency with firearms regardless of when the applicant for a license acquired the experience.

This is what I was getting at in my initial post. I am aware of your link. What this change in the ORC does is in fact waive the fees and eliminate the need for taking the CCW course. The legislation text of HB 235 as introduced can be seen here. With a focus on a CCW license and only a CCW license.

Ron
 
This is what I was getting at in my initial post. I am aware of your link. What this change in the ORC does is in fact waive the fees and eliminate the need for taking the CCW course. The legislation text of HB 235 as introduced can be seen here. With a focus on a CCW license and only a CCW license.
Ron
I see what you mean now. Basically, I was going off of what is soon to be outdated info. I'm a CCW instructor here in Ohio so this is stuff I do my best to keep up with. Thanks for posting.

I too have mixed feelings about this. As you mentioned, many military veterans have very little firearms experience. On the other hand, most of the current CCW classes in Ohio are just barely adequate to teach people the basics of how to not shoot themselves or others on a flat range. Most teach little or nothing at all about how to actually carry or use the weapon, (heck, if it's an NRA class, they can't even say, "weapon"). The only actual value in many classes is what little legal information is discussed and in most cases the students could simply get the same information by reading through the AG CCW booklet.
 
I see what you mean now. Basically, I was going off of what is soon to be outdated info. I'm a CCW instructor here in Ohio so this is stuff I do my best to keep up with. Thanks for posting.

I too have mixed feelings about this. As you mentioned, many military veterans have very little firearms experience. On the other hand, most of the current CCW classes in Ohio are just barely adequate to teach people the basics of how to not shoot themselves or others on a flat range. Most teach little or nothing at all about how to actually carry or use the weapon, (heck, if it's an NRA class, they can't even say, "weapon"). The only actual value in many classes is what little legal information is discussed and in most cases the students could simply get the same information by reading through the AG CCW booklet.
Yeah, I know a few guys who teach the course and next H.O.G. Chapter meeting if I see the one guy I need to get his take. Real nice guy named Vince who teaches the course at Stonewall Range, maybe you know him? I also question the part about knowing and understanding Ohio Laws as they pertain to CCW. Don't even get me started on teaching people how to not shoot themselves. Did you ever walk up to an indoor range firing line and look up, down, right, left and wonder where the bullet holes came from?

Anyway, while I see waiving the CCW License fees and renewal fees for veterans as a nice deal for the veterans I can't say I agree with removing the training requirements. As instructors you guys work with enough restraints of time to present what I see as important material. You and I both know the media thrives on any bad shoot involving a CCW license holder. So I guess we will see how it all plays out.

Ron
 
For as much as I dislike Kasich, at least we can count on him to sign most pro-gun bills that make it to his desk. His “assault weapon ban” rhetoric is scary, but he seems to at least still be friendly to conceal carry.

Kasich has done a big turnaround since Parkland and has stated publicly that he will not sign another gun bill unless it is his "common sense" gun restrictions bill HB 585. This is why he is allowing SB 81 to become law without his signature.
 
HB 235 was in the 131st session of the Ohio General Assembly and while it passed the House, it never passed the Senate. We are currently in the 132nd session and the bill that was recently passed by both the House and Senate was SB 81.

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA132-SB-81
Thanks for pointing that out. I knew it had been awhile since day one but not the change in HB number. It says the same thing pretty much as far as veterans are concerned:

"To amend section 2923.125 of the Revised Code to waive the concealed carry license
fee for active members of the armed forces and retired and honorably discharged
veterans, to accept military experience with firearms as proof of competency with
firearms regardless of when the applicant for a license acquired the experience
, to
permit a licensee to renew a concealed handgun license at any time before the
expiration of the license, and to require the Attorney General to monitor the
number of license fees waived and cap the total amount allowed to be waived at
$1.5 million".

There is a 1.5 million cap and I would guess it will take awhile to reach that cap.

Kasich has done a big turnaround since Parkland and has stated publicly that he will not sign another gun bill unless it is his "common sense" gun restrictions bill HB 585. This is why he is allowing SB 81 to become law without his signature.
I agree but at least rather than a veto pen he simply let it go through without his signature which I was good with. Overall it was a win for pro-gun movements and veterans. I would not say he did a big turnaround as he knew it would become law and he is a hell of an improvement over the past governors as far as gun rights. He is just upset because his bill is not getting any love as to banning things like bump stocks, triggers and a few other things he feels are common sense legislation. So with Kasich done would DeWine or Cordray be the better choice and if Cordray gets in with Betty Sutton gun rights in Ohio are toast.

Ron
 
For as much as I dislike Kasich, at least we can count on him to sign most pro-gun bills that make it to his desk.

For the purposes of this forum, he is hard to dislike in my opinion. Ohio gun laws and CC specifically has come a long way in the last 8 years. Parkland may have changed his stance slightly but he still allowed this to become law, so his opinion hasn't changed too much. IMHO, he has been good for RKBA in Ohio.
 
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