Bill Introduced to Simplify Ohio Concealed Carry Law

DELAWARE, OH – Ohio Representative Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) has today introduced HB495, a bill designed to reform Ohio concealed carry law to protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners and continue a trend toward making Ohio law similar to other states.

Currently, the gun laws in the Ohio Revised Code contain a number of ambiguities, and a number of “poison pill” provisions that have created confusion for law-abiding Ohioans, law enforcement agencies and the courts.

Nine years ago, Governor Robert Taft refused to sign Ohio’s concealed carry legislation unless it contained language to address so-called “safety concerns” of anti-gun activists. None of these provisions have proven helpful in protecting public safety, nor is there any evidence they have reduced gun-related crime.
Once adopted, HB495 would eliminate hundreds of words from the Ohio Revised Code without making any material changes. This will make the law easier to read, understand, comply with and enforce – a win for everyone. “This important legislation addresses real problems with Ohio law,” said Jim Irvine, Chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association, a grassroots gun advocacy organization. “It continues the trend to remove problems and align Ohio law with commonly understood concepts.”
The bill would make three changes to Ohio law. First, Ohio would join many other states in automatically honoring other state’s concealed carry licenses, and allowing the Attorney General to sign more agreements with other states. Second, HB495 would also remove a vague and unenforceable “demonstrated competency” requirement, and third, the law would clarify the definition of a “loaded gun.”
The changes to the definition of a loaded gun are critical to all gun owners. Any gun owner-and most lay people-know that a gun is “loaded” when it has ammunition inserted into it. But Ohio law mistakenly defines a loaded magazine in a car as a loaded gun, even though the magazine, on its own, has no firing pin and no ability to fire a bullet. A gun magazine is simply a detachable device that stores and feeds ammunition into a semi-automatic firearm.

In fact, under current Ohio law, a sealed box of ammunition purchased from a sporting goods store could be considered a “loaded gun.” With national shooting matches taking place every year in Ohio, and Ohioans legally purchasing ammunition every day, it is critical to fix this error in Ohio law.
Like a driver’s license, most states consider a current or expired license to serve as proof that you have (where required) completed required training. Ohio does not require any recurrent training. But after the first renewal, license holders must “demonstrate competency” before they can apply for their third license. Early in 2013, this will start affecting license holders and must be amended this year to avert major confusion.
License holders, instructors and sheriffs have begun to ask questions about exactly what is required for this competency demonstration. Currently, there is no definition in Ohio law. There is no related class by either the Ohio Police Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) or the National Rifle Association (NRA) that is designed to fulfill this requirement. In short, no one knows what is required, but many attorneys say that all the law requires is simply to demonstrate to an instructor that you are competent. Draw a gun, fire some shots, and you are done. But professional firearms instructors are understandably concerned about “certifying” a person as competent without having put that person through a training class.
Representative Terry Johnson said, “I am deeply honored to sponsor this particular bill, as it is much needed. It is highly substantive and goes far to simplify something that has been needlessly complicated. I will miss no opportunity to unburden Ohioans as they strive to exercise their basic constitutional right to keep and bear arms.”
Buckeye Firearms Association is a grassroots political action committee (PAC) dedicated to defending and advancing the right of Ohio citizens to own and use firearms for all legal activities, including self-defense, hunting, competition, and recreation. We work to elect pro-gun candidates and lobby for pro-gun legislation.