OH - HB 225 Introduces Sweeping and Necessary CCW Reform

[MeanStreaker]

Ohio House Bill 225 has been introduced in the Legislature. This bill will bring sweeping and necessary changes to Ohio's concealed carry laws. We have gained a lot of ground in the short time since HB12 was passed in 2004, but more work remains.

Ohioans For Concealed Carry will bring you all updates to the progress of this bill as they develop.

Points in HB 225 include:

--Authorization of a person to carry a concealed handgun without obtaining a license to the same extent as if the person had obtained such a license if the person qualifies for a concealed carry license and is legally permitted to purchase a handgun.

--Removal of the requirement to inform approaching law enforcement officers that the person has a license and is carrying the handgun when the person is carrying a concealed handgun.

--Removal of the prohibition of carrying a concealed handgun at all institutions of higher learning (public and private), places of worship, day-care centers and homes, and government buildings other than schools, courthouses, law enforcement offices, and correctional facilities.

--Removal of the "in plain sight or secure encasement" criterion that a concealed carry licensee must satisfy to legally possess a handgun in a motor vehicle for an unlocked container/case. This would pretty much let you carry however you want.

--Repeal of the "journalist exception" to the provision that otherwise makes confidential the records a sheriff possesses regarding concealed handgun licenses and applications for such licenses.

 

[MeanStreaker]

My apologies. Perhaps this should be in the new Activism forum as it addresses a specific bill. Sorry!

 

[Rumble]

Meanstreaker, I thought the "plain sight" requirement had already been removed by HB 347?

 

[EricTheBarbarian]

Authorization of a person to carry a concealed handgun without obtaining a license to the same extent as if the person had obtained such a license if the person qualifies for a concealed carry license and is legally permitted to purchase a handgun.

That is awesome. I don't see how it could get much better than that. I've always felt getting a license was kind of a backward way of gun registration, thats why I don't have one. I would carry all the time if this bill gets passed. Definetly worth writing my reps about. I might not want to move out of this state afterall!

 

[Anotherguy]

Sounds like a great bill, good luck on that.

 

[MeanStreaker]

Meanstreaker, I thought the "plain sight" requirement had already been removed by HB 347?

The "in plain sight" went away if you're carrying in a holster on your person. If the loaded handgun is in a closed (but unlocked) container, then it has to be in plain sight. If the container is locked, then it doesn't have to be in plain sight.

As I read it, this bill does away with all "plain sight" as well as "container". That means you can carry pretty much any way you want in a car, even a mounted holster or something. But, IANAL.

 

[Rumble]

Ah, I understand now. Thanks!