Cincinnati's FOX19 News: ''Ohio House Expected to Pass CCW Bill''

A Thursday story from Cincinnati's WXIX FOX Channel 19 makes it clear: the Ohio House is expected to pass HB12, a concealed weapons bill introduced this week.

Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) told FOX19 News he expects his chamber sometime soon will pass a bill that would have county sheriffs grant licenses allowing people to carry concealed weapons.

Under current Ohio law, only police have that clear right. Anyone else is subject to arrest, and must prove to a judge the need to carry a concealed weapon.

Opponents of the current law believe it's unconstitutional (to date, four judges have agreed). Their lawsuit is scheduled to be considered by the Ohio Supreme Court.

But chances in the Senate are less certain. And Governor Taft has said he'll veto the bill because it's opposed by the Ohio State Patrol, which believes it would increase violence.

Householder's response is that in the more than 40 states that already allow concealed carry, criminals are deterred by not knowing whether their next victim might be able to fire back.