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Dayton Daily News: Concealed-weapons legislation debate continues

The conceal-and-carry bill being debated in the legislature has become one of the state’s hottest issues. A Senate committee has been hearing testimony on the measure this week and probably will vote on it next week, said Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Butler Twp., the committee chairman who is negotiating the bill. It had been set for a vote today. The House was to have adjourned this week, but might...

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Senate/ Taft lock up concealed weapons bill

Legislation legalizing concealed handguns for most Ohioans was caught yesterday in a political crossfire. Senate Civil Justice Committee Chairman Jeff Jacobson announced early in the day that the concealed-weapons bill won't be ready until next week, rather than today. The seemingly minor delay had big political consequences: The House, which must take one more vote on the bill, was scheduled to...

Press Release: Ohioans for Concealed Carry Strongly Opposed to Substitute HB274

Ohioans for Concealed Carry has completed an extensive evaluation of the Substitute HB274, as adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee (Civil Justice) on Tuesday Dec. 3. After a full review, OFCC has made official our opposition to Substitute HB274, and called for the Senate to pass HB274 (7), which received a veto-proof majority vote in the House six months ago. CLEVELAND - Thursday, December 5...

Columbus Dispatch: Hot-issue CCW bill may die this session

Senate President Finan and Committee Chairman Jacobson have had since March to deal with this legislation, but chose to play politics, possibly to protect Governor Taft's re-election efforts. Now, according to this Columbus Dispatch story (subscription site - paid access only) they complain that they're out of time. But even at this eleventh hour, they have the time to pass HB274 as was passed by...

Various Online CCW Polls

There is a CCW poll on the Springfield News Sun website in the lower right-hand corner, asking readers "Do you support legislation to allow Ohioans to carry concealed weapons?" There is also another poll at The Sun News Papers in the lower right hand corner as well. Still another poll can be found at the Tribune Chronicle .

Ohio Public Radio (NPR): Taft Backs Off Veto Threat

Ohio Public Radio has a four minute audio clip suggesting that Governor Bob Taft may actually be reconsidering his veto threat because HB274 has become so restrictive. Numerous people are interviewed in this audio clip (requires Real Audio Player). If you have Real Audio Player, click here for a streaming audio link from our website. You can listen to the clip on The StateNews Website by clicking...

Dayton Daily News: Conceal-carry bill wins FOP backing; Taft support unclear

Changes introduced Tuesday to concealed-and-carry gun legislation have won acceptance from the Ohio FOP, a move that could eventually lead to legislation Gov. Bob Taft would sign. Taft's support is not assured, however. He has a list of additional changes he would like to see and even then, is making no guarantees he would sign a bill into law, said Joe Andrews, Taft's spokesman. "He’s asking for...

Cincy Enquirer: FOP backing concealed-carry bill

The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police withdrew its objections to a bill allowing citizens to carry concealed handguns after a Senate committee made major revisions, including required fingerprinting of all gun permit applicants. Supporters hailed the FOP decision as a boost in passing the new law. Joe Andrews, a spokesman for Mr. Taft, said the governor is reviewing the changes and will meet with...

Toledo Blade: Ohio concealed-gun bill gets a boost

The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, a union representing 24,000 current and former officers, withdrew its opposition yesterday to a controversial bill allowing Ohioans to carry concealed handguns. Supporters of the bill believe the move is significant in that Gov. Bob Taft has vowed to veto the measure without the support of law enforcement. The FOP assumed a position of neutrality, but fell just...

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Police union won't oppose concealed handgun bill

Citing proposed training requirements that would be among the nation's toughest, the Fraternal Order of Police ended its long-held opposition to a bill that would allow most Ohioans to carry concealed handguns. Supporters hope the police union's neutrality will help win the approval of Gov. Bob Taft, who has opposed past concealed weapons legislation but continues to negotiate with Senate leaders...

Columbus Dispatch: Police group drops opposition to gun bill

Key Senate revisions in a concealed-weapons bill yesterday caused a major police group to drop its opposition and Gov. Bob Taft to list, for the first time, some restrictions the legislation must include if he is to support it. The Fraternal Order of Police, which represents 24,000 officers, dropped its opposition yesterday, saying it now is neutral. The National Rifle Association, representing...

Substitute HB274 Approved by Senate Committee

The Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee (Civil Justice) has released proposed language for a substitute CCW bill, and it appears Committee Chairman Jeff Jacobson has achieved his goal of drafting a bill both the National Rifle Association and the Fraternal Order of Police labor union could accept. In its Tuesday, Dec. 3 meeting, the committee introduced Substitute HB274 and adopted it. In proponent...

AP: Police union ready to drop opposition to concealed weapons

The state's largest police union is ready to drop its opposition to a bill to allow Ohioans to carry hidden guns, if changes the Senate is considering remain in the final version, a union spokesman said Tuesday. The signal from the Fraternal Order of Police marked the first time the group has not opposed the idea since 1995, Columbus Police Sgt. Mike Taylor said. Click here to read the Associated...

AP: Concealed weapons bill gets first hearing since April

The Associated Press filed a very detailed CCW story very early Tuesday morning, which quoted OFCC President Jeff Garvas and provided a link to the OFCC website. By JOHN McCARTHY The Associated Press 12/3/02 12:22 AM COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A bill to allow Ohioans to carry hidden guns if they pass a background check and a safety course is getting another turn in the Ohio Senate. The Senate Civil...

Dayton Daily News: New version of right to carry bill to be considered

Buried in a Dayton Daily News story about the 2003 budget comes this little tidbit about Senate consideration of HB274: Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Butler Twp., said today he will introduce a new version of legislation giving Ohioans the right to carry concealed weapons. The House passed its concealed-carry bill last March with the approval of the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association. Jacobson has been...

Dispatch: ''Senators hope to gain union's support to prevent veto''

Ohio Senate Republicans are making a last-ditch attempt to satisfy the Fraternal Order of Police on a concealed-weapons bill and perhaps win the approval of Gov. Bob Taft. The senators are preparing to upgrade training requirements and give officers a fast way to check the validity of permits to carry hidden handguns. Click here to read the entire story from the Columbus Dispatch (subscription...

Toledo Blade: ''Police union’s support deemed crucial to governor’s approval''

"The Ohio Senate appears poised for a lame-duck session vote this week on a controversial bill allowing law-abiding Ohioans to carry concealed handguns." "Toby Hoover of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence of Toledo, said she does not believe FOP acquiescence will make a difference." "'I don’t think that would be enough on its own,' she said. 'The governor has promised all of us that he would...

Ohio Public Radio (NPR) Covers Concealed Carry

The Statehouse News (Ohio's National Public Radio [NPR] affiliate) put together a 3.5 minute audio clip that you may have heard (or may hear Tuesday) on NPR affiliates throughout Ohio. Included in the audio clip is Senator Jeff Jacobson, a spokesman for Governor Taft, Mike Taylor from the FOP labor union, Jeff Garvas from Ohioans For Concealed Carry, and John Gilchrest from the Ohio Chiefs of...

Letter to the Editor: Senate mustn't let FOP run show on concealed carry

A second major Ohio newspaper has printed a letter to the editor from Ohioans for Concealed Carry President Jeff Garvas. Two days after writing a horribly misinformed anti-CCW editorial , the Columbus Dispatch printed Garvas' letter (subscription site- paid access only). Garvas' letter was published on November 18 in the Zanesville Times Recorder, and can be read by clicking here .

Daily Reporter: ''Concealed weapon law to be addressed before year's end''

"With two weeks worth of legislative sessions remaining this year, lawmakers hope to reach a compromise on legislation that would allow Ohioans to carry concealed handguns, while satisfying law enforcement officials' concerns and avoiding the veto of Gov. Bob Taft, according to officials." "The amendments will try to bridge the gap between the bill's current supporters, including members of the...

Dispatch Editorial: ''Ohioans shouldn't be invited to carry concealed weapons''

On Thanksgiving Day, the Columbus Dispatch printed an embarrassing (for them) editorial about concealed carry that can be found by clicking here . The incredibly flawed editorial suggests that the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association supports HB274 because they would profit from the licensure fees. Anyone who bothered to read the bill would know that this is absolute hogwash. According to HB274,...

URGENT: HB274 Hearings in the Senate

The Senate Judiciary Committee (Civil Justice) has announced hearing schedules for HB274 as follows: Tues., Dec. 3, 10:00 a.m. - Senate Hearing Room 110 - Invited proponent testimony only Tues., Dec. 3, 2:00 p.m. or post-session (time permitting) - Senate Hearing Room 110 Wed., Dec. 4, 11:00 a.m. (may reconvene after Senate session if necessary) - North Hearing Room - Proponent & Opponent...

Judge refuses to make city turn over data in gun case

A Hamilton County judge Tuesday refused to order the city of Cincinnati to turn over documents that gun manufacturers say might be evidence supporting the city's allegations that gun makers are responsible for the unauthorized ways criminals obtain firearms. Attorneys for the gun companies say that, despite their pleas, the city has failed to produce any statistics or reports to support its...

Recount ordered in Senate race; PAC made difference in close, key race

The state Senate race between Republican incumbent Jeffry Armbruster and Democratic challenger Sue Morano is headed for a recount, the secretary of state's office said Tuesday. The certified vote showed Armbruster beat Morano by a margin of 47,856 to 47,482 -- a difference of 374 votes, Dana Walch, Blackwell's director of elections, wrote to boards of election in Lorain, Huron and Seneca counties...

Trial Balloon: Taft considers raising bar for HB274 support

Gov. Bob Taft is leaning toward making legislation requiring safe storage of firearms a new condition for winning his approval of a bill that would allow Ohioans to carry concealed weapons, a well-placed Statehouse source said Monday. The safe-storage provision would be in addition to Taft’s requirement that any concealed-weapons bill have the support of major law enforcement groups, said the...

OSU to Students: How to Protect Yourself Against the Serial Rapist

The Ohio State University may have won the fight against Michigan on the field Saturday, but they STILL haven't won the fight against the Buckeye Campus-area Rapist, who has been victimizing female OSU students at will since mid-summer. University Police Chief Ron Michalec has said he is "not in favor of people walking around with a concealed weapon. The police are here to protect. That is what...

Gun bill vote could come in December

A story in Friday's Bucyrus Telegraph Forum , has made it perfectly clear: A Senate vote on HB274 is expected in December. "A bill allowing Ohioans to carry concealed weapons could be voted on by the Senate in early December, nine months after the House approved the measure." "Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Phillipsburg, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Civil Justice committee, this week met with...

Letter to the Editor: Why Vote?

The Zanesville Times has printed another pro-CCW letter to the editor , about politics, the history of concealed carry in Ohio, the lawsuit, and more. The author of the letter did a real number on the FOP. While we don't endorse this attitude of futility at this point in time, the letter definitely summarizes what many pro-CCW voters may feel should they wake up Jan. 1, 2003 without Concealed...

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