by Dave Workman
Senior Editor
Pro-gun Ohio state Rep. Jim Aslanides (R-94th Dist.) has introduced sweeping gun law reform legislation that includes state pre-emption and would also clean up the state’s 18-month-old concealed carry statute.
Aslanides told Gun Week that his intent is to have “a single, common law that everyone in Ohio can live with, so that traveling from city to city doesn’t catch gunowners” in conflict with some local ordinance.
Almost immediately, the Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) endorsed the legislation, filed as House Bill 347 (HB-347). Aslanides already has 47 co-sponsors out of a 99-member House of Representatives, and he insisted that other lawmakers will support the measure. He hopes to have it out of committee by the year’s end.
The Coshocton Republican said his legislation would eliminate the “plain sight” mandate in the current concealed carry law that requires motorists to have their holstered handgun visible while driving, yet conceal it when they are out of the car. This provision has tripped up licensed gunowners.
In addition, under Aslanides’ bill, Ohio concealed pistol licenses (CPLs) would increase in cost to $55, but they would be good for a period of five years. Citizens with a CPL could opt out of having their names available to the news media, which has allowed some anti-gun newspapers to publish the names of CPL holders. In one case, the newspaper went so far as to print their addresses.
Under the proposed legislation, an affirmative defense would be added to state law protecting citizens who have to discharge a firearm in self-defense. There are also provisions expanding protections for law enforcement officers.
BFA’s Jim Irvine told Gun Week that he expects bitter opposition from Ohio anti-gunners, who contended that the current concealed carry law would lead to bloody shootouts in the streets and taverns. None of their dire predictions has come true, he noted.
He said there are tenets of the bill “that should make everybody happy.”
Under HB-347, local gun control ordinances would be rendered moot, as state preemption would take over, eliminating problems that have erupted in Toledo over gun bans in public parks, and more recently in Columbus, where the city council passed a ban on so-called assault weapons, costing that city the 2007 NRA annual convention. Sheriff’s departments would be required to accept CPL applications any time during normal business hours, and they could not require citizens to make appointments to fill out and submit the paperwork.
Other provisions in HB-347 include an exemption for police officers from most firearm regulations. The definition of “loaded gun” is tightened to mean that ammunition must actually be in the firearm, and not just in a nearby magazine. The bill would also allow renewal of carry licenses up to 90 days prior to expiration, and for 30 days following the expiration date.
An important tenet of the bill would require sheriffs to send renewal notices.
Aslanides said he took “a long look” at the current statute and tried to write his legislation in a way that it would address the problems that have arisen and fix them.