When Ohio's ban on CCW was ruled unconstitutional in a Hamilton County court last year, OFCC took note of a number of media outlets which were largely silent on the story.

When a Democrat judge from Seneca County became the third Ohio court to rule Ohio's CCW ban unconstitutional, we pointed out that many major Ohio newspapers failed to so much as mention the ruling.

In spite of this history, who would have guessed that three major Ohio newspapers would manage to keep the news of HB12's passage out of the headlines?

• Is no CCW news good news for the Akron Beacon Journal? Their only mention of this week's action was a paragraph giving the vote count, buried deep within a story about Ohio gas taxes.

• Is no CCW news good news for the Cincinnati Enquirer? Their online edition had no references to HB12 on Thursday or Friday. Have they, perhaps, forgotten their pro-CCW editorial, published on 1/2/02 following the Hamilton County constitutionality ruling? (Click on the "Read More..." link below to view an archive of the editorial)

• Is no CCW news good news for the Cincinnati Post? Their online edition had no references to HB12 on Thursday or Friday.

• Is no CCW news good news for the many other Ohio dailies that managed to print stories on the gas tax hike vote in the House, which occurred AFTER the vote on HB12?

In their coverage of the passage of HB12, the Alliance Review brings the issue of rural vs. urban voting on concealed carry reform to light.

"Supporters said the issue is important and beneficial to both rural and urban areas, but agreed there is a lot of support for the issue in rural areas, saying that in rural areas, police cannot be everywhere.

According to state Rep. Keith Faber, R-Celina, many rural police believe a neighbor is more likely to be their first backup in some situations in rural areas.

There are simply no compelling, logical or statistical reasons to deny Ohioans the kind of gun rights already held by the vast majority of the nation, Aslanides said."

Click here to read the full story in the Alliance Review.

The Toledo Blade has written an article on the passage of HB12, and borrowed a headline from Toledoan Toby Hoover (Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence) to describe this legislation as a bill that would allow "hidden guns" to be carried by Ohioans.

"How can any member of this House, man or woman, vote yes when the Ohio State Patrol says the bill imperils every member of that 1,500-member force?" asked Rep. Tyrone Yates (D., Cincinnati).

"All of our border states ... have concealed-carry laws that are no more restrictive than House Bill 12," said Rep. Jim Aslanides (R., Coshocton), the bill’s sponsor. "Yet there has been no reporting of widespread gun violence."

OFCC PAC Commentary:
Speaking of Toby Hoover: we are in receipt of her latest email alert, calling for action in the wake of HB12's passage. For the text, and our commentary, click on the "Read More..." link below.

Ohioans who want to carry concealed handguns for their protection will turn their attention to the state Senate now that the House again has voted to allow county sheriffs to issue permits to qualified individuals 21 or older.

"I expect to handle it expeditiously,'' Senate President Doug White, R-Manchester, said. "We had a full, honest, open, aggressive debate on it late last year. I expect we'll be able to move pretty quickly on it.''

Click here to read the full story in the Columbus Dispatch (subscription site - paid access only).

"The Ohio House on Wednesday voted 69-28 for legislation giving Ohioans the right to carry concealed handguns in their purses, jackets, cars and elsewhere.

The Senate now takes up the issue. Senate President Doug White, R-Manchester, said he expects quick action, with a floor vote coming within three weeks.

White said he doesn’t know if the two chambers would be as far apart this time. The Senate’s earlier version was more restrictive that the House’s."

This Dayton Daily News article, although slightly biased against concealed carry (as is usual for the DDN), has quite a few quotes from the floor debate.

The Lancaster Eagle-Gazette* has printed an article, written by Leo Shane III, on Mar. 12's vote, which includes an yet another interesting quote from Sen. President Doug White.

"Senate President Doug White, R-Manchester, said he expects a vote on the controversial measure in the next two or three weeks, even if Gov. Bob Taft continues to oppose it.

'I don't expect it to take long,' he said. 'I think we can reach a compromise.'

Taft has threatened a veto of the measure if all of Ohio's major law enforcement groups are not satisfied with it. But the 69 supporting votes would be enough to override that veto in the House.

White said he wants avoid that kind of vote counting, and hopes instead to reach a compromise with the governor."

OFCC PAC Commentary:
Click here to access the list of Senate Committee on Ciminal Justice. Let them know you think TAFT is the one who needs to compromise, not Senators, who would be compromising the constitutional rights of law-abiding Ohioans.

Click here to read the full story in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette.

Click here to read the full story in the Zanesville Times-Recorder.

Click here to read the full story in the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum.

Click here to read the full story in the Mansville News-Journal.

*This paper is one of many central Ohio newspapers owned by Gannett Publishing, and will likely apper in multiple papers in the next few hours/ days. Links to all versions will be posted here.

The Ohio House once again passed a bill yesterday that would allow most Ohioans to carry concealed handguns.

It was the second time in a year that representatives passed such a bill, this time by a vote of 69-28, and the second time the governor expressed his intent to veto the House proposal.

Senate President Doug White said that he has been in touch with Taft's office and that it may yet be impossible to resolve the issues that remain. Key to the bill's success is satisfying the State Highway Patrol, which wants a prohibition against concealing handguns on one's person while in a car. Troopers want the weapon to be locked away during transport."

Rep. Jim Aslanides, the Coshocton Republican who sponsored the bill, has called the issue a deal-breaker on the House side. White said yesterday that the Senate would not support the restriction either.

Click here to learn how you can get involved in the fight to keep your constitutional right to self-defense in your vehicle.

Click here to read the full story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer

The Canton Repository (which recently published a column calling for passage of concealed carry reform) and the Massillion Independant have both published a story by Paul E. Kostyu, Copley Columbus Bureau chief, which contains some very interesting quotes:

"Senate President Doug White, R-Manchester, said he expects his chamber to deal with the bill quickly and send it to Taft, who has threatened in the past to veto it because the measure does not have the support of the Ohio Highway Patrol and other police groups."

"The Senate... is expected to hold hearings and pass the measure within a couple weeks."

Click here to read the full story in the Canton Repository.

Click here to read the full story in the Massillion Independent.

The Associated Press has published a story covering the March 12 events in the Ohio House: House passes new version of bill. This story contains several key quotes:

"Senate President Doug White, a Manchester Republican, said the Senate will try to reach a compromise that Taft and the House could support."

"He said he doesn't think he can pass a concealed weapons bill that requires drivers to keep weapons in locked boxes -- a provision the patrol says it needs before it can support the measure."

Versions of the AP story are expected to run in news outlets all over Ohio. Links to those stories, as well as others, will be provided here as the become available:

Ohio News Network Pt. 1

Ohio News Network Pt. 2

The original AP story is archived, and be viewed by clicking the "Read More..." link below.