What SB184 means to you: Part VI - Government building victim zones

By Jim Irvine

SB184 is 75 pages. It will go into effect on September 09, 2008. This is part of a series of articles looking at specific sections of the bill and how it will affect you. Keep in mind that I am not an attorney and this does not constitute legal advice. Concealed carry license holders are required to read the Attorney General guide. I highly recommend "The Ohio Guide to Firearms Laws" by Ken Hanson, Esq. (NOW AVAILABLE: Update for SB184).

Of all the places concealed handgun licensees (CHL’s) are banned from carrying a gun, the ban in all government facilities may be the most problematic. While not "fixed" in SB184, it is now workable for CHL’s.

Sec 2923.126 (B) lists the areas that CHLs are prohibited from carrying a concealed handgun.

Sec2923.126 (B)
(9) Any building that is owned by a government facility of this state or any a political subdivision of this state, and all portions of any building that is not owned by any governmental entity listed in this division but that is leased by such a governmental entity listed in this division and that is not a building that is used primarily as a shelter, restroom, parking facility for motor vehicles, or rest facility and is not a courthouse or other building or structure in which a courtroom is located that is subject to division (B)(3) of this section;

The crossed out portions will be deleted from the ORC. The underlined portions will be added to the ORC.

Buckeye Firearms Association has received many questions regarding this section and what it means. What I can say is that it means what it says, and nothing more. Many of the "what about…" questions will simply have to be answered in court.

What is clear is that "a building that is used primarily as a shelter, restroom, parking facility for motor vehicles, or rest facility" will "not" be a prohibited area anymore.

This should solve the problems for highway rest facilities and shelters and bathrooms at county fairgrounds that have been particularly problematic for CHL’s. It will also permit CHL’s to enter parking garages owned by the state, such as the Statehouse parking garage.

• DOWNLOAD THE ACT
• SB184 Analysis: Significant practical improvements for ALL Ohioans
• What SB184 means to you: Part I – Castle Doctrine
• What SB184 means to you: Part II – Seizure and Return of Firearm
• What SB184 means to you: Part III – Official Stops
• What SB184 means to you: Part IV – Transportation of Unloaded Firearms
• What SB184 means to you: Part V – School Safety Zones
• What SB184 means to you: Part VI - Government building victim zones
• What SB184 means to you: Part VII – “Class D” victim zones
• What SB184 means to you: Part VIII – Sealed and expunged records

Hanson's "The Ohio Guide to Firearms Laws” updated to reflect SB184 changes