Gannett news reporter sees faux CHL tie-in with arrest

In a July 7, 2004 Chillicothe Gazette story, Gannett News reporter Lisa Roberson tries her best to find a connection between a young woman who illegally carried a firearm into a restaurant and Ohio's new concealed handgun license law.

Reporter Lisa Roberson's story starts as follows:

An 18-year-old woman is facing a third-degree felony charge after she allegedly carried a loaded 9mm handgun into a local restaurant Sunday night.

The gun was discovered in the purse of Kerri A. Hall, of 243 Park St., when bouncers at Buffalo Wild Wings on North Bridge Street stopped her to check her purse. The handgun was confiscated, and the police were called.

At first, Hall claimed the gun was only in her purse because she found it on the south side of town and wanted to sell it, a police report said. After several minutes, Hall changed her story and told officers she was registered to carry a concealed weapon."

So far, so good. But Roberson wasn't done. Obviously, the teen was not being truthful, as the law requires a minimum age of 21 to obtain a Concealed Handgun Licnese. This didn't stop Roberson from finding a way
to tie this simple illegal possession story to Ohio's new concealed handgun license law, she continued:

Under Ohio's new concealed-carry weapons law, carrying a firearm into an establishment that holds a liquor license and sells alcohol is a third-degree felony. The law does not allow any residents, including those who have the new concealed-carry permits, to enter a liquor establishment.

Hall was arrested and taken to the Ross County Jail.

In addition, Hall is not registered in Ross County to carry a concealed weapon, according to Ross County Sheriff's deputy Sheila Weathersbee. However, Weathersbee said Hall may be registered in a bordering county.

Ross Co. Sheriff's deputy Sheila Weathersbee told OFCC today that she was unaware of the accused's age when the Chillicothe Gazette reporter came in to inquire about whether Hall had a license to carry. Weathersbee said had she known, she would have informed the reporter that persons under age 21 cannot obtain an Ohio CHL.

Calls from both OFCC and Deputy Weathersbee to Lisa Roberson have gone unanswered.