The Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee (Civil Justice) has released proposed language for a substitute CCW bill, and it appears Committee Chairman Jeff Jacobson has achieved his goal of drafting a bill both the National Rifle Association and the Fraternal Order of Police labor union could accept. In
its Tuesday, Dec. 3 meeting, the committee introduced Substitute HB274 and adopted it.

Click on the "Read More..." link below to read the rest of the story.

The state's largest police union is ready to drop its opposition to a bill to allow Ohioans to carry hidden guns, if changes the Senate is considering remain in the final version, a union spokesman said Tuesday.

The signal from the Fraternal Order of Police marked the first time the group has not opposed the idea since 1995, Columbus Police Sgt. Mike Taylor said.

Click here to read the Associated Press' coverage of today's hearings, which will likely be updated throughout the afternoon and evening.

In yet another story in advance of today's hearings, the Ohio News Network mentions the Hamilton County CCW lawsuit and all of the plaintiffs (including OFCC).

Click here to read the entire story from the Ohio News Network.

The Associated Press filed a very detailed CCW story very early Tuesday morning, which quoted OFCC President Jeff Garvas and provided a link to the OFCC website.

Click on the "Read More..." link below to view the story.

Buried in a Dayton Daily News story about the 2003 budget comes this little tidbit about Senate consideration of HB274:

Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Butler Twp., said today he will introduce a new version of legislation giving Ohioans the right to carry concealed weapons.

The House passed its concealed-carry bill last March with the approval of the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association. Jacobson has been negotiating with the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police and the National Rifle Association to come up with a plan to win maximum support.

Taft has said he would veto a bill that didn’t have the support of major law enforcement groups. The FOP, the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Ohio Association of Police Chiefs oppose the House version of the bill.

Click here to read the entire story in the Dayton Daily News (mostly off topic).

Ohio Senate Republicans are making a last-ditch attempt to satisfy the Fraternal Order of Police on a concealed-weapons bill and perhaps win the approval of Gov. Bob Taft.

The senators are preparing to upgrade training requirements and give officers a fast way to check the validity of permits to carry hidden handguns.

Click here to read the entire story from the Columbus Dispatch (subscription site - paid access only. An archived version is available by clicking the "Read More..." link below.

"The Ohio Senate appears poised for a lame-duck session vote this week on a controversial bill allowing law-abiding Ohioans to carry concealed handguns."

"Toby Hoover of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence of Toledo, said she does not believe FOP acquiescence will make a difference."

"'I don’t think that would be enough on its own,' she said. 'The governor has promised all of us that he would veto the bill unless it has the support of all law enforcement. That’s not going to happen, even if the FOP stops opposing it.'"

"Ohio is one of six states that does not allow the carrying of concealed handguns."

"'There are people who fear guns and that will not change,'" said Rep. Jim Aslanides (R., Coshocton), the bill’s sponsor. 'We would try to simply turn that fear around to the criminals because they have guns.'"

For more details and analysis, click on the "Read More..." link below.

The Statehouse News (Ohio's National Public Radio [NPR] affiliate) put together a 3.5 minute audio clip that you may have
heard (or may hear Tuesday) on NPR affiliates throughout Ohio.

Included in the audio clip is Senator Jeff Jacobson, a spokesman for Governor Taft, Mike Taylor from the FOP labor union, Jeff Garvas from Ohioans For Concealed Carry, and John Gilchrest from the Ohio Chiefs of Police Association.

If you have Real Audio Player, click here for a streaming audio link from our website.

You can listen to the clip on The StateNews Website by clicking here.