Concealed Carry [Licenses] Meet Complications
The following story highlights the reason OFCC and the OFCC PAC continue to need your support (via membership dues and donations). OFCC will obviously watching these developments very closely.
Ohio's defenseless citizens have waited far too long for their right to bear arms for self-defense to be restored. Innocent people continue to be victimized. False issues like a supposed HIPAA conflict cannot be permitted to delay enactment of this law, nor should potential for a large influx of early applicants. Other states' sheriff's offices and training facilities have been professional enough to handle the initial demand for CHL's, and we expect Ohio's to be as well.
Those Wanting Permits To Wait Longer
February 13, 2004
NBC4Columbus.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Many Ohioans are anxious for the concealed carry bill to be launched. Some have been waiting for years and many will have to wait longer. A federal law that protects privacy has made the process of obtaining a concealed carry permit complicated.
The attorney general's office is required to create a database that will eliminate applicants who have been declared mentally incompetent, NewsChannel 4's Monique Ming Laven reported.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Aslanides, has been complicated by a federal law that protects the confidentiality of medical histories.
Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.
"We know mental competency can be a vague description of a person," Aslanides said.
"We’re going to try very hard to comply with the law, and get it ready to go for Ohioans," Kim Norris, spokeswoman, Office of the Attorney General said. "It's going to be a challenge."
Following the mental health requirement could potentially exceed the April 8 deadline.
Aslanides said it could be possible to extend the deadline, Ming Laven reported.
There is concern about the long waiting list for training classes.
"We're booked up until April," Rich Rodeheaver, New Albany Shooting Range said.
"(Michigan) had, I want to say 62,000 applications as soon as the law was passed," Norris said.
All applicants must also report to officials for background checks and fingerprinting.
Some counties are short-staffed due to budget cuts and are concerned about limited manpower to meet requirements.
"I don't think they considered everything that's going to be involved in this process when they wrote this bill," Phil Crist, director of Civil Services, Fairfield County said. "We don't have all the personnel we need to deal with this rush."
Crist said they could see 900 applicants in the first day, Ming Laven reported.
With complications mounting, applicants like Roger Ross have had difficulty believing the April 8 deadline will be sufficient.
"I think they should wait a little longer and get these things worked out," Ross said.
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