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Concealed gun bill begins march through Senate
By JIM SIEGEL
Gannett News Service
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Senate hopes to pass a concealed handgun bill before the summer break, although putting it into law likely will require an override of Gov. Bob Taft's veto.
A Senate committee began hearings Wednesday on a bill that allows Ohioans who pass a criminal background check and complete a gun safety course to obtain a concealed weapons permit. County sheriffs would issue the permits.
Sen. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, said he hopes to conduct about five weeks worth of hearings before passing the bill.
But there are still some issues to iron out.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce has expressed concern that while the bill allows private property owners to ban guns from their buildings, patrons or employees could still keep loaded guns in vehicles in the parking lot.
"Employers, through (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and workers' comp, are required to provide safe workplaces," said Tony Fiore, lobbyist for the chamber. "It's up to them to decide what that means."
Taft has said repeatedly he won't sign the bill if police groups oppose it, and law enforcement still has several hang-ups with the measure.
The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, which removed its opposition to the bill late last year after the Senate made several changes, is again looking for multiple Senate amendments.
Mike Taylor, state secretary for the FOP, said restrictions on guns in police stations and courthouses must be worked out, as well as training and fingerprinting issues.
The FOP also doesn't like that under the bill people caught with a gun and no permit can avoid prosecution by using a number of defenses, including arguing that they would have qualified for a permit if they bothered to get one.
"If you're going to have a permit system, either have it or don't," Taylor said. "There shouldn't be an affirmative defense. It seems pretty simple to us."
The Ohio Highway Patrol wants guns in vehicles locked away so neither the driver nor passengers can get to them quickly during a traffic stop.
So far there doesn't appear to be any more legislative support for gun restrictions in vehicles than last year.
"I don't understand why Ohioans should be treated differently than those other states that don't prohibit guns in a car by a permit holder," said Rep. Jim Aslanides, R-Coshocton, the sponsor of the bill. "How is Ohio unique?"
The House passed the concealed handgun bill in March by 69-28, a large-enough margin to override a veto.
"Our No. 1 goal is to pass a responsible bill that can become law," Austria said.
He implied that could happen with or without Taft's signature.
If the Senate passes a gun bill in June, it likely will happen before the Ohio Supreme Court rules on a case involving whether Ohio's current ban on concealed weapons is unconstitutional.
If the court rules in favor of gun supporters, Ohioans could carry guns without the restrictions and permitting requirements contained in the bill.
Originally published Thursday, May 1, 2003
Copyright ©2003 Times Recorder.