A bill that would expand Ohio’s concealed carry law is making its way through the state legislature.
Similar to Florida, Ohio might implement a “Stand Your Ground” law, which would decrease the duty to retreat if one is attacked.
“I would hope there are very strict regulations that go along with ‘Stand Your Ground’ if it ever comes to Ohio,” Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly said, adding he doesn’t think it will pass in Ohio anytime soon.
Currently, the law says a person is permitted to hold his or her ground if he or she is attacked in a place of residence, his or her vehicle or family member’s vehicle.
“Stand Your Ground” expands the bill to anywhere the defender is legally allowed to be, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Service Center.
“Every situation has to be judged individually,” Kelly said. “You can’t blanket cover ‘Stand Your Ground’ and think that’s going to cover every situation because it’s not.”
Ohio Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Albany, voted in favor of the bill and said she finds the language in Substitute House Bill 203 to be different from Florida’s law.
“The language with duty to retreat is different from Florida,” said Phillips, whose district includes Athens. “It codifies existing case law.”
Despite the usual party-split over gun rights, six Democrats voted for the bill, including Phillips.
Because multiple Democrats voted in favor of the law, Phillips said the vote was not based on “party lines by any means.”
One of the provisions Phillips emphasized in the bill was preventing those convicted of any domestic violence charges from obtaining a concealed weapons permit.
Current gun laws only restrict those with felonies from obtaining concealed weapons permits.
“Trying to write a policy that will ensure less people slip through the net and obtain firearms or keep concealed weapons illegally is a very difficult process—loopholes will always exist,” said Kimberley Fletcher, an Ohio University political science professor, in an email.
A provision of the bill would require concealed carry applicants to only complete one third of the time required by current law for the competency requirement of the license.
But Ohio recognizes some people within the state go to other states with less stringent standards to obtain concealed carry permits.
“Some other states don’t have any competency (standards) so some would go to other states to get their permits,” Phillips said.
By lowering the competency requirement, Phillips said it would encourage people seeking permits to get them in Ohio.
The bill has been assigned to the Senate committee and will likely be up for vote soon. Until then, lawmakers will have their eyes on this controversial bill.
—Asst. Local Editor Xander Zellner contributed to this report.
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