Senator: ''Solidarity among Republicans'' destroying your right to self-defense
By JIM SIEGEL
Gannett News Service Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS -- The majority of Ohio senators support a concealed handgun bill, but fewer are willing to override a Gov. Bob Taft veto to make it happen.
The Supreme Court last week put the issue squarely in the lap of the legislature, ruling that Ohio's ban on concealed handguns is constitutional, and it's an issue for lawmakers to decide.
Both the House and Senate passed versions of the concealed handgun bill before summer break. The proposals allow anyone age 21 or over who passes a criminal background check and completes a 12-hour training course to carry a gun in places not restricted by the bills.
But a stalemate remains.
Taft has said he will sign the Senate version, but the House refuses to accept it. Taft said he will veto the House version, because the Ohio State Highway Patrol opposes it.
The Senate could break the logjam by agreeing to the House bill and overriding Taft's veto. House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, has said he has the votes needed for an override.
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But Senate President Doug White, R-Manchester, has said repeatedly he doesn't have enough votes to do that, despite the fact that the bill passed the Senate 22-10 -- two votes more than what's needed for an override.
"When you're talking about overriding a veto, the governor will use all the influence he can muster to twist arms so he is not going to be embarrassed," said Sen. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark. "A number of Republicans will say they do not want to put the governor in that situation."
Some also may not want to cross the governor because they're interested in some type of political appointment, Hottinger said.
"If you're looking to leave in the next three years, you may be less apt to override the governor's veto," he said, adding that he has no problem overriding a veto.
Sen. Larry Mumper, R-Marion, would not say whether he would vote to override a Taft veto if it came down to it. But he doesn't think the opportunity would ever happen.
"To tell you the truth, I don't think he'd veto it," Mumper said. "Why would Ohio adopt a bill more restrictive than any other state and then turn around and throw it out?"
Gun bill supporters ultimately hope Taft gets the chance to veto the bill. If lawmakers send Taft a bill that he's willing to sign, the restrictions would be so severe it would render the bill useless, said Jeff Garvas, president of Ohioans for Concealed Carry.
"I don't think it's impossible to have a veto override," Garvas said. "But if they have enough votes, is the Senate president going to allow an override?"
Some senators question the need to send Taft a bill he will veto when they've already passed a plan he will support.
"If we were not able to get an agreement, this would be a different thing," said Sen. Bill Harris, R-Ashland.
The Senate bill contains significant restrictions for carrying a weapon in a vehicle, including elimination of affirmative defense, which allows people to argue they were carrying a gun because they perform a dangerous job.
House members are refusing to accept those provisions.
Sen. Jim Carnes, R-St. Clairsville, is among those who supports a concealed handgun bill but would not override Taft's veto. He points to a respect for the executive branch and solidarity among Republicans.
"We have a bill the governor will sign," he said. "I think we take that, go with that and get it done."
This story will be printed in multiple Gannett papers throughout Ohio, including:
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