By Chad D. Baus & Jim Irvine

A study released last week by the Ohio State Highway Patrol is highlighting the need for reforms to concealed weapons laws in the Buckeye State.

According to the report, which covered January 2008 through August 2009, OSHP Troopers made 447 arrests for illegal weapons, or less than one per day.

OSHP District 9 (south-central Ohio) accounted for the largest number of arrests for illegal weapons (85) during the 20-month time period, followed by District 3 (the greater Cleveland/Akron area) (59) and District 6 (greater Columbus) (55). Post 76 Canton (25) and Post 71 Chillicothe (24) recorded the highest number of arrests at the OSHP Post-level.

At the county level, Richland and Ross had the most arrests related to illegal weapons (24 each), followed by Scioto (18), Mahoning (17), and Stark (17). These five counties accounted for over one in five OSHP illegal weapon arrests (100 or 22%).

Lt. Scott Carrico, commander of the Wapakoneta Post, told the Wapakoneta Daily News that the majority of illegal weapon arrests are made as the result of troopers stopping motorists for other offenses, and that at least some of the arrests involved concealed handgun license (CHL)-holders.

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray announced today that his office would join arguments to be made in the United States Supreme Court that Second Amendment rights under the United States Constitution should be protected from undue restrictions imposed by state and local governments. The Supreme Court granted full review today and will examine this issue in the case of McDonald v. Chicago, based upon the Court's landmark ruling last year in District of Columbia v. Heller. That ruling recognized that, with respect to the federal government, the Second Amendment affords individuals the right to keep and bear arms.

"We are grateful that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear this important case," said Cordray. "We will join with others in arguing that the Court should hold that the people's Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is fundamental and cannot be denied by state and local governments."