OHIOANS FOR CONCEALED CARRY APPLAUDS CONCEALED CARRY REFORM PASSAGE
COLUMBUS - Dec. 11, Ohioans for Concealed Carry (OFCC) is pleased that
House Bill 12 is finally headed to Governor Taft. We support the passage of a concealed carry law as a vital deterrent to violent crime.
With recent news about Ohio's skyrocketing crime rate this legislation is long overdue. Ohio's defenseless citizens deserve a law that will allow them the same right to survive a criminal encounter as citizens in
every bordering state, and 44 across the nation now enjoy.
The rash of carjacking incidents, including the one that took Tony Gordon’s life while his 13 year-old nephew watched in horror, need to stop. Allowing people the choice to defend their life in a car is vital to the success of concealed carry reform.
“How many people have to die before it's clear that Capt. Born and other Ohio State Highway Patrol bureaucrats are wrong? People can't 'just drive away' when attacked in their cars,” observed Jim Irvine, OFCC spokesman. “In the wake of Tony Gordon’s murder, we've been collecting money for a two-year old girl who will never know her father. The Holidays have been extremely tough on the family. We need to give Ohioans the choice to defend themselves.”
OFCC remains opposed to many senate amendments to HB12, including the inclusion of license information in the LEADS database, weakening of the affirmative defense system, weakened reciprocity, and the inability of a woman to carry a firearm in her purse in her own car.
While there are many problems with this bill, it will allow law-abiding citizens who have undergone extensive training and background checks to be issued a license to carry a firearm for defensive purposes.
OFCC is encouraged that grassroots Ohio is finally being heard. The nearly twenty 'Defense' Walks, including one last week at the Governor's Mansion, combined with a coalition of more than one quarter of a million Ohioans, demonstrate the broad-based support of a concealed carry reform
law.
"Ohio is about to finally join the forty-four states who have proven this is sound public policy," said Jeff Garvas, OFCC President.
"Recently, the FBI reported that, for the first time in forty years, Michigan's per capita crime rate fell below Ohio's in the wake of passage of their concealed carry law.”
Ohioans For Concealed Carry urges Governor Bob Taft to sign this bill
into law.
The Ohio Senate Voted 25-8 to accept the Conference Committee Report. Click here to view the Senate debate and vote via streaming audio.
The Ohio House Voted 70-27 (with 2 non-votes) to accept the Conference Committee Report. Click here to view the House debate and vote via streaming audio.
Click here to read OFCC's HB12 Conference Report Summary
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