Gov. Bob Taft signed a bill Thursday that will allow Ohioans to carry concealed handguns.
The law, which will take effect April 9, gives any Ohio resident 21 or older the ability to purchase a permit from a county sheriff provided the applicant meets certain requirements.
Those include paying a $45 fee; completing a 12-hour firearms training course or otherwise proving firearm competency; reading a pamphlet on firearms safety, disputing resolutions and the use of force and passing a criminal and mental competency background check conducted with fingerprints. Fugitives and those with prior drug or violent offenses will be ineligible. Taft spokesman Orest Holubec said the requirements are stricter than most other states.
The law will prohibit concealed handguns from university or college campuses, police stations, airport passenger terminals, courthouses, jails, public buildings where liquor is served, state government buildings, psychiatric and mental institutions and anywhere federal or state law already states they are off-limits.
The permit is valid for four years and is renewable. The law prevents sheriffs from using discretion in issuing permits.
Athens County Sheriff Vern Castle said he has always supported the bill.
It's a more adequate way for people to defend themselves and their families
he said.
Only one of Ohio's law enforcement agencies, the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association, supported the bill. The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police and the Ohio Highway Patrol both took a neutral stance after opposing the bill until permit requirements were made more stringent.
Taft said he would not sign any bill that did not have the support of every law enforcement organization. Neutrality counts as support, Holubec said.
Mike Taylor, Ohio FOP state secretary and Columbus policeman, said the order does not oppose the concept of a conceal-carry bill but every piece of legislation until the final version of the bill was opposed.
It's very divisive Taylor said. Rural officers tend to support it and urban officers tend to oppose it.
Concealed-carry can be a safety concern for law enforcement officers, Taylor said.
Many crimes are crimes of passion he said. When you put a weapon in that situation
problems can increase
he said.
Taft had also threatened to veto any bill that did not allow the names of permit holders to be released. The bill he signed allows only journalists to access the list. Taft wanted to make the list available to the entire public but is satisfied with this compromise, Holubec said.
Some legislators threatened to take the access away if it is abused, but both Holubec and Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens, who had mixed feelings about the list, said there should not be a problem.
The ability to carry concealed weapons can make people feel safer, Stewart said.
Private property owners are allowed to prohibit concealed handguns on their property and are permitted to post signs that concealed weapons are not permitted.
That may be the only redeeming aspect of the bill, Hoover said.
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Jeffrey Fitzwater
