Counties prepare handgun warnings
UPDATE: The Associated Press has picked this story up - it will likely be published in news outlets across the state. Please forward reports of any potentially illegal bans to [email protected].
Officials debate details of keeping guns out of government buildings
March 23, 2004
Columbus Dispatch
Central Ohio counties are scrambling to prepare and post signs reminding conceal-carry permit holders they cannot bring firearms into county-owned buildings.
Beginning April 8, law-abiding Ohioans who pass approved firearms-training courses can apply to county sheriffs for permits to carry hidden handguns.
The law, however, forbids permit holders from carrying handguns in numerous places, including any government building. Private property owners and businesses can choose to ban or permit weapons.
Signs banning guns in county administration buildings and other offices, and possibly parking lots, will begin popping up soon.
Commissioners in Licking, Delaware and Union counties discussed preparations for the new law yesterday.
Franklin County’s policy bars guns in the courthouse.
Licking County Sheriff Gerry Billy predicted the law will be popular.
"We’re preparing for an onslaught," Billy told the Licking County
commissioners. "I do envision there will be hundreds of people who will apply for the conceal-carry permit."
Billy is among numerous sheriffs concerned about the short time frame to institute the concealed-carry law after lawmakers passed the measure in January.
"We’re hoping it’s not a shootout at the OK Corral," Billy told commissioners. "All of a sudden, everybody is scurrying."
In Delaware County, discussions include posting signs in about 15 county buildings, said County Administrator Dave Cannon. "I’m not sure whether we can prohibit (weapons) in a parking lot," he said.
The issue is of particular interest in Delaware because of a murder-suicide two years ago in the parking lot of the Rutherford B. Hayes County Services Building.
"I think there may be room (under the law) for us to put up signs in parking lots," said Delaware County Prosecutor David Yost.
Fairfield County officials hope to frame a sign policy in concert with the city of Lancaster, said Commissioner Judith Shupe.
"We haven’t got much time left," she said. "We’re looking at what wording to put on signs . . . and should we put this in Spanish or not."
Other counties also are discussing signs and revising employee manuals.
"We don’t have any choice but to mark all county buildings that it is illegal to carry a firearm or deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance anywhere on the premises," said Madison County Sheriff Stephen Saltsman.
The commissioners are compiling a list of buildings that will be marked with signs warning permit holders they cannot enter with guns, the sheriff said.
The number of signs and their cost have not been determined.
Union County Commissioner Gary Lee said officials are preparing to post signs forbidding handguns at public and employee entrances of county buildings. The county also will alter its employee manual to remind permit holders they cannot bring guns to work, he said.
Pickaway County Commissioner Ula Jean Metzler said officials still are determining the number and cost of signs required. County Administrator Dan Bradhurst said the county is considering whether to post gun-prohibition stickers in county vehicles.
Commentary:
We have to wonder if the Dispatch is aware of Section 9 in the recently passed Ohio concealed handgun licensure law, or if they bothered to question the county officials you spoke with about it in preparation for this story.
Section 9 of HB12 specifically prohibits counties, municipalities or other political subdivisions of the state from making any laws that extend bans on carrying concealed firearms on public property beyond buildings.
The City of Salem - specifically the Parks Commission - has already decided against a consideration to attempt to ban concealed firearms from park property, after being made aware of Section 9. A story about this reversal was published in the Lisbon News Journal last week.
OFCC is in the process of contacting all entities about the need to address this part of the law in their considerations. The City of Fairborn and the County of Summit are also reconsidering their law, after our representatives made them aware of Section 9.
Ohioans For Concealed Carry is in the process of searching for a test case to challenge any such public entity that violates Section 9 - certain public entities have attempted to go beyond the intent of the General Assembly by extending the ban beyond buildings.
The Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled that bearing arms for self-defense is a fundamental individual right. The language provided in HB12 does not distinguish between open carry and concealed carry in banned public buildings. This could prove to be a concern for persons wishing to exercise their "fundamental individual right" in such places as an interstate rest area, and we are investigating this matter further at this time.
OFCC will take any attempts to restrict the right to carry a firearm concealed, or openly, with the utmost seriousness. At present, we are recommending that counties, municipalities or other political subdivisions of the state simply post the signs offered by the Ohio Attorney General on their buildings, and leave it at that.
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