Ohio: "Ohio Senate's president to join gun-bill talks"

[cuchulainn]

from the Dayton Daily News

http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/1023guns.html

Ohio Senate's president to join gun-bill talks

Proposal would allow concealed weapons

By Laura A. Bischoff
[email protected]

COLUMBUS | A bill that would let Ohioans carry concealed weapons took a step forward in the legislature this week when Senate President Doug White agreed to appoint himself and state Sen. Scott Nein to a conference committee.

The committee will try to iron out differences between the House and Senate versions of concealed-weapons legislation. White had refused to appoint conferees until it looked like behind-the-scenes negotiations brought the two sides close enough together that a compromise is likely.

White also said Wednesday he delayed appointing conferees because he didn't want his Senate members harassed and pressured by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights advocates for months while behind-the-scenes negotiations continued.

White said the conference committee will officially be appointed today.

Nein, R-Middletown, and White, R-Manchester, will join state Sen. Marc Dann, D-Youngstown, and three House members — bill sponsor Jim Aslanides, R-Coschocton; Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green,; and Charles Wilson, D-St. Clairsville. White said the committee could meet next week.

The Ohio House in March passed a bill that would have county sheriffs issue concealed-weapons permits to adults who meet certain criteria. The Ohio Senate made changes to the bill and passed it in June, but House members balked at some of the restrictions added by senators, especially one that removed the "affirmative defenses" for having a concealed gun without a permit. The two sides also differed about whether permit holders should be allowed to have concealed guns in cars when juveniles are present.

White said Wednesday there appears to be some "wiggle room" on the affirmative defense issue. Ohio law allows police to arrest anyone found carrying a concealed weapon but the accused can use an affirmative defense to argue he or she had a right to carry a gun for protection, while working a dangerous job, for instance, or fearing crime.

The law banning carrying concealed weapons has been on Ohio's books for nearly 145 years. Ohio's Constitution, adopted in 1851, grants the right to bear arms. Some of the same lawmakers then set initial restrictions on arms possession in 1859.

[From the Dayton Daily News: 10.23.2003]

Copyright © 2003, Cox Ohio Publishing