Ohio Attorney General: Social Security Number on CHL application ''voluntary''

Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro has issued an opinion over recent questions concerning the legality of mandating that concealed handgun license applicants provide their social security numbers on the application. The opinion was posted on the AG's website without fanfare, and no press release was issued.

This opinion confirms the position OFCC has taken on this issue for years: It is a violation of federal law to mandate that applicants provide their social security number on a concealed handgun license application.

Key wording of the opinion follows (emphasis added):

"Although voluntary, disclosing a Social Security number greatly facilitates the criminal background check that must be conducted before a license can be issued. Under federal law, the county sheriff may not refuse to process an application for a license if the applicant does not provide a Social Security number."

Click here to download the opinion, entitled "Use of Personally Identifying Information".

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