THE LEGISLATION PASSED THE OHIO SENATE - The Vote Was 20 - 11

Senator Jeff Jacobson began speaking on behalf of Substitute HB274 shortly after 4pm today. After giving a rather lack luster performance that could be paraphased as: "nobody is happy with this bill but we did what the cops and the administration wanted" the Senator sat down.

Amendments were offered by Senator Fingerhut, a well-known opponent of Concealed Carry Reform, to make the bill even worse, and all failed.

Information on who voted yea, and who nay, will be made available on our
website. Further updates as information becomes available.

We have posted a downloadable version of Substitute HB274, as PASSED by the Senate, on our website. Click here to access the downloads section, or click on the Downloads link in the menu bar at the top of the website.

OFCC PAC analysis and a look ahead can be accessed by clicking on the "Read More..." link below.

This story was filed by the Associated Press immediately following passage of the bill out of Committee.

OFCC PAC Observations:
Most interestingly, the Ohio State Patrol is *STILL* opposed to the bill, even after the the Committee tried to "compromise" and tell people they could have a loaded gun in their car, but only if locked in their glove box or in a case.

The Governor's office STILL says he won't sign it, but Rep. Aslanides seems to think
if he would commit to signing it, he could approach the House to reconsider their position.

The Senate didn't do anything to appease the concerns of the House Leadership, so it would be very hard for them to justify returning to vote on this legislation (not impossible, just hard to justify and unlikely at this point).

Click here to read the entire Associated Press story.

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has just learned that the Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee has caved into Governor Bob Taft's demands. In the process of issuing Version 15 of "Substitute House Bill 274", the committee has decided to amend this legislation into something completely unsupportable.

A vote on this legislation on the Senate Floor is expected today. Session begins at 1:30pm. You can watch it live or visit the same link to watch recorded sessions )if you read this after session ends).

Click here to access Senate phone numbers and call them NOW -- tell them to pass HB274 as it left the Ohio House, or, if they can't do that on the floor, tell them to vote AGAINST Sub. HB274(15), since the Senate Judiciary Committee has ruined it.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more on what they did to amend HB274 for Bob Taft and a police labor union, and for a link to a downloadable Version 15.

The House won't vote on [an amended] bill to allow Ohioans to carry hidden guns this year, but a vote on the issue could take place in the Senate this week.

Work continued Monday to recruit supporters, said Sen. Jeff Jacobson, a suburban Dayton Republican who's chairman of the Senate Civil Justice Committee. An amended version of the bill was expected to be introduced Tuesday, he said.

However, talks appeared headed toward getting the State Highway Patrol to drop its opposition to the bill -- [the latest] key in getting Gov. Bob Taft's support.

The patrol was hoping the bill would be amended to include language similar to current law, which prohibits having a loaded weapon within reach of a driver or passengers. Unloaded weapons may be carried in cars, but the weapon must be in plain sight.

For more of the story, OFCC PAC commentary, and a link to the full story from the AP, click on the "Read More..." link below.