Toledo Blade: Concealed-weapon bill in danger
A bill allowing licensed Ohioans to carry concealed handguns on their persons and in their cars appeared to be in danger yesterday as time to work out a compromise grows short.
One day after convincing the Ohio Fraternal Organization of Police to withdraw its opposition to the bill, the Senate Judiciary on Civil Justice Committee postponed today’s planned vote until Tuesday.
The delay sets up a showdown between the Senate and House. Speaker of the House Larry Householder (R., Glenford) said the House does not plan to be here next week. The exodus of either chamber would leave any unfinished business, such as the concealed carry bill, to die as the 124th General Assembly goes home.
Greg Kopp, secretary of Ohioans for Concealed Carry, said the group withdrew its support as a result of expanded fingerprinting requirements, training requirements, and an expanded list of places where guns would be prohibited.
The group would prefer to take its chances with the Ohio Supreme Court, which has before it an appeal of a Cincinnati court ruling that Ohio’s ban on carrying hidden guns is unconstitutional.
"We only need four more judges to say the same thing," he said. "To get four out of seven on a conservative court next session is probably not that unlikely."
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