The long awaited end to one of the dumbest provisions of Ohio's original concealed carry law is here.

For the first time in the almost three years since Ohio's concealed carry law took effect, CHL-holders are no longer required to carry their holstered firearm in "plain sight" while in a motor vehicle. The unpopular, unsafe requirement was struck from Ohio's law by HB347, a bill which became law despite a gubernatorial veto last December.

Other changes include:

By Ken Hanson

In another exercise of pointing out bias in reporting, lest we all become so used to it we find it acceptable, John McCarthy of the Ohio Associated Press serves up another heaping serving of bias in his “coverage” of HB347 going into effect. As we examined previously with an example from the Toledo Blade, some of the bias is subtle, some of it not so much.

As before, we encourage you to read Mr. McCarthy’s “news” story first. It can be found at the following link:

"Law change will allow motorists to have hidden guns"

The overt bias, the bias in tone and adjective selection, begins with the title . Normally I do not take issue with titles, as headline writers tend to be sensational to sell stories. However, Mr. McCarthy repeats the bias in the body of the story, meaning the prejudice is his and he is not a victim of a headline writer.

Buckeye Firearms Association has created an information-packed “wallet card” to help Ohio CCW instructors educate their students. It’s called the Buckeye CCW Wallet Card and it is available in quantity upon request and free of charge for any certified Ohio CCW instructor.

“There’s a lot you have to know when you first get your Concealed Handgun License in Ohio,” says Jim Irvine, Chairman of Buckeye Firearms Association. “You learn all the rules in the mandatory 12-hour course, but it’s a lot to digest all at once. So we decided to create a small card with some of the basic information licensees often ask about.”

The CCW Wallet Card is the size of a normal business card, so it fits in any wallet or purse. It’s printed on heavy paper and is specially coated to help it hold up to wear and tear until students takes the next CCW class, where they can get an updated card.

Both sides of the card are filled with basic information every CHL holder should know, including:

• Basic NRA gun safety rules
• The states where an Ohio CHL is valid
• Rules for motor vehicle carry
• How to transport a non-CCW firearm
• Tips for encounters with law enforcement
• A list of forbidden carry zones