The Cleveland Plain Dealer has come up with a new angle to push their opposition to concealed carry reform: it's supposed cost.

According to the PD, "Concealed-handgun legislation that cleared a House committee yesterday would cost Ohio taxpayers nearly $5 million over the next two years - and up to $5.7 million annually by 2007.

About $1 million a year would be offset by fees charged by the state to run background checks on Ohioans who applied to carry guns in pockets, purses, gloveboxes and holsters.

Analysts attributed the added costs to the state to more Ohioans going to prison under the bill's toughened penalty for firearm theft."

OFCC PAC Commentary:
Even IF these numbers prove to be accurate, shouldn't the people who oppose concealed carry reform due to safety/gun violence concerns be elated that it might cost as little as $5 million to get these criminals off the street?

To contact the author of this story, PD Reporter Julie Carr-Smyth, email her by clicking here, or call her at 1-800-228-8272.

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Last year, the House approved the bill after 17 hearings and nine months of debate. Then the Senate waited until after the Nov. 5 election to act on it, finally passing its version in December just before adjourning for the session.

The result was a bill with changes that the House would not accept and the bill died when the session ended at year's end.

Sponsoring Rep. Jim Aslanides doesn't want to see that happen again.

Aslanides, a Coshocton Republican, said lawmakers should come up with a bill that would be acceptable to the court and not worry so much about a veto from Taft.

Click here to read the entire story from the Association Press, or click on the "Read More..." link below for an archived version.