Proposed changes to concealed carry law concerns some gun owners
Jan. 3—LIMA — The Republican-controlled Ohio Legislature gave gun owners a bit of a Christmas present in November and December by passing two pieces of legislation that eased some laws concerning concealed carry permits. Neither has final approval yet.
Tom Holycross, president of the Tri-State Gun Collectors, is a bit concerned about how the final version will look and whether Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will actually sign it.
"I was a little disturbed about the safety factor on people carrying guns that didn't have the course on the safety of the weapons they were carrying," Holycross said. "I worry about the people that are carrying guns who don't really know the operation or are comfortable with it. They just don't have proper training."
Senate Bill 215, introduced by Terry Johnson, passed on Dec. 15, would drop the requirement of a permit to carry a concealed handgun, and gun owners would not have to notify law enforcement during a traffic stop that they have a gun in the vehicle.
"Ohioans are already permitted to open-carry firearms, however, once an individual were to put on a sweatshirt or jacket, they would be in violation of the law," Johnson said in a news release. "Senate Bill 215 solves this problem and further removes restrictions to Ohio's second amendment rights."
House Bill 227, sponsored by Thomas E. Brinkman Jr. and Kris Jordan, would also drop the mandate for a concealed carry permit for those 21 and older unless federal or state law would prohibit it. It would also drop the requirement that you tell law enforcement whether there are handguns in a vehicle.
"Regulations and restrictions currently in place are not stopping violent crime and only serve as barriers for law-abiding citizens who are trying to possess and carry weapons for self-defense and for the defense of their loved ones," Brinkman said in a news release.
Jeff Jacomet, who helps run security at the monthly gun shows at the Allen County Fairgrounds, is a Lima police officer and owns GreyFox Defense, a gun store in Delphos.
Jacomet has always promoted gun safety and offers concealed carry classes, which may not be needed anymore if this legislation is finalized.
"Of course, I'm pro-Second Amendment, that's without a doubt. It seems like the system works right now the way it currently is. It works as best as anything could work as far as government stuff goes," Jacomet says. "When you talk about Constitutional Carry, you also have the other side of the coin. In 2020 the state denied around 1,700 people getting their concealed carry and revoked an additional 2,000, so right there you're looking at 3,400 people that didn't qualify to the point of possessing one, whether it be someone who has done criminal acts or anything like that.
"If this passes, that goes away. They have access."
As a Lima police officer, Jacomet is concerned about the safety of law enforcement.
"I think it will be a big issue. When it comes to getting pulled over, as of right now you're required to notify law enforcement that you're in possession of a handgun," Jacomet said. "(Under the new bills) you don't have to tell them unless law enforcement asks you if you're armed. That, to me, makes it more cloudy. I don't think that that's going to be safer for interaction between law enforcement and the public. With everything going on, it's already very strained to start with, and I don't think that's going to help matters much."
Senate Bill 215 was introduced in the Ohio House on Dec. 22 and awaits hearings in that chamber, while House Bill 227, which passed the Ohio House on Nov. 17, was introduced in the Ohio Senate on Nov. 23. No hearings have been scheduled yet on that bill either.