Legislators will return in September, but say action on gun rights not likely until November

Wednesday, June 4 marked Ohio legislators' final day of session before summer break, and while both House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) and Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina) expect their respective chambers to hold more committee hearings and session days in September and October, leaders aren't willing to commit to passing pro-gun rights legislation in the Republican-controlled Senate before the "lame duck" session that will convene after the November elections.

From the Gongwer News Service on June 5:

Sen. Faber was also elusive about what the chamber's agenda would entail. "There's always issues we have to deal with," he said.

The Senate president said he expects to finalize upcoming session dates with Speaker Batchelder in the next few weeks.

While Sen. Joe Uecker's (R-Loveland) concealed carry bill (SB 338) could see action during the early fall sessions, the measure could also wait until after the November election, he said.

And from separate Gongwer coverage on June 4:

While other concealed carry bills (HB 203 & HB 387) have stalled in committees this session, Sen. Coley said he's confident that the Senate measure will see movement in the fall.

"I believe the issues have been worked on and addressed in other bills in both chambers, so I think our bill's definitely going to be ready to pass in lame duck," he said.

House Bill 203, passed by the Ohio House on November 20, 2013 by a 63-27 vote, contains some of the same provisions as SB 338, which was introduced in the Senate in early May and received four hearings in the Civil Justice Committee which Sen. Coley chairs. But HB 203 also contains several other provisions important to Ohio concealed handgun license-holders, as well as any Ohioans who might wish to exercise their right to self-defense, whether while bearing arms or not.

If Senate leaders wait until November to address the many firearms-related issues before them, they will need to be efficient because of the limited timeline. It would be helpful if the Senate would hold hearings on HB 203 over the summer. The bill contains much-needed changes gun owners are asking for and has already passed in the House, thus having a shorter route to the Governor's desk.

Other important pro-gun rights bills are also waiting action in the legislature, including HB 191 (Align Firearms Definitions), HB 231 (Eliminate Many 'No-Guns' Victim Zones), HB 234 (Allow Noise Suppressors While Hunting), HB 454 (Rule Modification for Concealed Carry in School Zones) and SB 60 (Close Media Access to CHL Records Loophole).

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.