Please note: the contents of this story were updated throughout the day as events warranted.

November 29, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Ohio Senate today passed Amended Substitute House Bill 347, a sweeping firearm laws reform bill. The House overwhelmingly passed substantially the same Bill this past Spring by an overwhelming, veto-proof majority. The House voter today to concur with the Senate's changes, and the Act is now headed for Governor Taft's desk, where he can sign it into law, veto the bill (and it would return to the General Assembly for a potential veto-override), or do nothing allowing the bill to become law without his signature.

The Bill dramatically improves firearm laws for gun owners and law enforcement in Ohio, including fixes the most severe problems that have become apparent since people began obtaining concealed handgun licenses in Ohio.

Among the changes:

- Law enforcement officers are given "24/7" concealed carry in Ohio, and changes are made to Ohio law to allow our officers to better take advantage of Nationwide concealed carry under Federal Law.

- BCI investigators are now given the same firearm rights as law enforcement officers.

- Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHLs) issued under the new law are good for 5 years versus 4 years under current law. The application fee increases to $55.

By Chad D. Baus

In late 2003, when it became clear that the Ohio General Assembly was preparing to send a concealed carry reform bill to the governor's desk, Bob Taft and his anti-gun allies at the Ohio Newspaper Association interjected an eleventh-hour attempt to stall the bill by objecting to the Assembly's intent to protect the privacy of concealed handgun license-holders.

ONA member newspapers argued that "knowing who has tried to get a license or who has obtained one... is in the legitimate public interest." Taft announced he would veto the bill as it was written, alleging that Ohioans have a "right to know whether their friends, enemies or neighbors have a license to carry a concealed weapon." The Cleveland Plain Dealer praised Taft for his decision.

The Ohio General Assembly disagreed about any alleged "right to know", but in order to avoid a Taft veto, legislators inserted a provision which allowed journalists to have access to the records, but that continued to protect license-holders' private information from the general public. This provision, which has come to be known as the media access loophole, became Ohio law at the same time as HB12 restored the Constitutionally-protected right to bear arms for self-defense.

By Jim Irvine

Of the many praises of Buckeye Firearms Association and our volunteers this year, the one we are most proud of is, "While other groups sent money and made in-kind donations, yours was the only endorsement that brought volunteers to my campaign."

The significance of that compliment can not be understated. Volunteers are how a political race is won.

Jim Tressel might be a great football coach, but his talents would be wasted if there was not a team of players who were devoted to the work it takes to execute his game plan. Winning a game or a National Championship is a team effort. Many people must work together for a common cause, and do it better than every other team set on the same goal.
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