URGENT UPDATE! Local Village Attempting Open Carry Ban (NE Ohio)

by Chad D. Baus

Some public officials may be guilty of violating Ohio's new concealed carry law before it even takes effect.

On February 2, the Akron Beacon Journal reported that Summit County Executive James McCarthy issued an executive order "prohibiting guns in all county buildings and vehicles and on county property."

On February 12, the Delphos Herald reported that the Delphos liberary Board of Trustees "passed a resolution stating the library does not permit weapons of any kind, either concealed or in plain view, on its property or in its buildings, unless the owner of the weapon is a law enforcement officer."

These officials may be guilty of violating Ohio law, or even the Ohio Constitution, as interpreted by the recent Ohio Supreme Court ruling. Consider Section 9 of the Act (House Bill 12), which states as follows:

Ohio is one of the highest ranking bank robbery states in the nation. Meanwhile, someone in Hamilton County is more worried more about whether or not a concealed hangun license (CHL) -holder can be prevented from carrying a gun while traveling through a bank’s drive-thru night deposit or ATM, if the bank specifies that firearms are not allowed on the premises.

Feb. 14, 2004
Akron Beacon Journal

Gunman escapes after National City heist in Green

GREEN - Police and the FBI were looking for a gunman who robbed a National City Bank branch Friday morning after firing a sawed-off shotgun into the bank's ceiling.

Summit County Sheriff's Capt. Larry Momchilov said no one was injured in the robbery, but paramedics treated one female customer inside the bank for anxiety.

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The following story highlights the reason OFCC and the OFCC PAC continue to need your support (via membership dues and donations). OFCC will obviously watching these developments very closely.

Ohio's defenseless citizens have waited far too long for their right to bear arms for self-defense to be restored. Innocent people continue to be victimized. False issues like a supposed HIPAA conflict cannot be permitted to delay enactment of this law, nor should potential for a large influx of early applicants. Other states' sheriff's offices and training facilities have been professional enough to handle the initial demand for CHL's, and we expect Ohio's to be as well.

Those Wanting Permits To Wait Longer

February 13, 2004
NBC4Columbus.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Many Ohioans are anxious for the concealed carry bill to be launched. Some have been waiting for years and many will have to wait longer. A federal law that protects privacy has made the process of obtaining a concealed carry permit complicated.

The attorney general's office is required to create a database that will eliminate applicants who have been declared mentally incompetent, NewsChannel 4's Monique Ming Laven reported.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Aslanides, has been complicated by a federal law that protects the confidentiality of medical histories.

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February 14, 2004
Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - About 75 business owners and others on Friday quizzed Butler County sheriff's officials on Ohio's new concealed-carry law.

The information session was aimed at business owners, and covered their rights and responsibilities under the new law.

One main concern by employers: Does the concealed-carry law mean they cannot ban employees and customers from carrying firearms onto business property? The straight answer is no, Butler County Sheriff's Commander Dave Pratt told the group.

"You have options," he said. "You don't have to let your employees carry if you don't want to."

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