COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) -- Ohio House Republicans have introduced a bill that would change concealed carry laws in the state.
House Bill 227 changes the name of a concealed handgun license to a concealed weapons license. If the bill were to pass, anyone over the age of 21 would be allowed to carry a concealed deadly weapon without a license.
Right now, those who have a concealed carry license are only allowed to carry a handgun.
Some say this bill is a right of passage, others say they will fight against it.
"It's just sad, and I don't know when we're going to do better," Oregon District Mass Shooting Survivor Dion Green said.
Green was with his dad the night of the Oregon District Mass Shooting. His dad, Derrick Fudge died that night; ever since Green has advocated for stricter gun laws.
He was surprised to hear Ohio republican represenatives are working to loosen concealed carry laws.
"We're trying to de-escalate the situation and it feels like we're still not taking a step forward in trying to," Green said.
The bill would also not require a person to immediately notify law enforcement of a concealed weapon if stopped say, for a traffic violation.
Ohio Senator Niraj Antani says he co-sponsored constitutional carry bills during his time as a state representative.
"The consitution does not put restrictions on the second amendment we shouldn't either," Senator Antani said.
"Do you think having a concealed carry without a permit could save more lives in Ohio," Dayton 24/7 ow's Chelsea Sick asked.
"In order to protect your personal self, your family you have the right to carry a firearm, you should do it safely," Senator Antani said.
Democratic State Representative Lisa Sobecki says she supports concealed carry as it is but does not support this bill.
"This is not a good piece of legislation," Rep. Sobecki said. "I think we need to be moving forward and having common-sense gun laws versus these that just take our state back almost back to like the wild, wild west."
Miami Valley Armory's Scott Cronin says in order to get a license you complete 8 hours of gun training, and the Sheriff's office approves your application with a background check.
"Regardless of if we have constitutional carry or licensed concealed carry you should continue to seek out training opportunities," Cronin said.
Cronin says he doesn't believe licensing is necessary for that.
"People are either good people, law-abiding citizens, or they're not and a license doesn't change that," Cronin said.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office says more than 241,000 concealed carry licenses were issued or renewed in 2020.
The primary sponsors of the bill include Thomas Brinkman Jr. of the 27th District, near Cincinnati, and Kris Jordan of District 67, encompassing most of Delaware County.
Co-sponsors are: Gary Click. Rodney Creech, Jon Cross, Bill Dean, Jay Edwards, Sarah Fowler Arthur, Jennifer Gross, Thomas Hall, Mike Loychik, Susan Manchester, Riordan T. McClain, Derek Merrin, Jena Powell, Craig S. Riedel, Jean Schmidt, Reggie Stoltzfus, A. Nino Vitale, Scott Wiggam, Shane Wilkin, Paul Zeltwanger.
We reached out to the sponsors and local co-sponsors of the bill, they either declined to comment or I did not hear back.
You can read the full bill introduced below. The bill has now been referred to committee.
When I was taking a concealed weapons class, they said in California you gotta keep your weapon and bullets locked in different cases when you are driving. I don't know if that is what they expect nowadays, kinda defeats the purpose of having a weapon though.
I like that gun! Anyone know what it is?
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) -- Ohio House Republicans have introduced a bill that would change concealed carry laws in the state.
House Bill 227 changes the name of a concealed handgun license to a concealed weapons license. If the bill were to pass, anyone over the age of 21 would be allowed to carry a concealed deadly weapon without a license.
Right now, those who have a concealed carry license are only allowed to carry a handgun.
Some say this bill is a right of passage, others say they will fight against it.
"It's just sad, and I don't know when we're going to do better," Oregon District Mass Shooting Survivor Dion Green said.
Green was with his dad the night of the Oregon District Mass Shooting. His dad, Derrick Fudge died that night; ever since Green has advocated for stricter gun laws.
He was surprised to hear Ohio republican represenatives are working to loosen concealed carry laws.
"We're trying to de-escalate the situation and it feels like we're still not taking a step forward in trying to," Green said.
The bill would also not require a person to immediately notify law enforcement of a concealed weapon if stopped say, for a traffic violation.
Ohio Senator Niraj Antani says he co-sponsored constitutional carry bills during his time as a state representative.
"The consitution does not put restrictions on the second amendment we shouldn't either," Senator Antani said.
"Do you think having a concealed carry without a permit could save more lives in Ohio," Dayton 24/7 ow's Chelsea Sick asked.
"In order to protect your personal self, your family you have the right to carry a firearm, you should do it safely," Senator Antani said.
Democratic State Representative Lisa Sobecki says she supports concealed carry as it is but does not support this bill.
"This is not a good piece of legislation," Rep. Sobecki said. "I think we need to be moving forward and having common-sense gun laws versus these that just take our state back almost back to like the wild, wild west."
Miami Valley Armory's Scott Cronin says in order to get a license you complete 8 hours of gun training, and the Sheriff's office approves your application with a background check.
"Regardless of if we have constitutional carry or licensed concealed carry you should continue to seek out training opportunities," Cronin said.
Cronin says he doesn't believe licensing is necessary for that.
"People are either good people, law-abiding citizens, or they're not and a license doesn't change that," Cronin said.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office says more than 241,000 concealed carry licenses were issued or renewed in 2020.
The primary sponsors of the bill include Thomas Brinkman Jr. of the 27th District, near Cincinnati, and Kris Jordan of District 67, encompassing most of Delaware County.
Co-sponsors are: Gary Click. Rodney Creech, Jon Cross, Bill Dean, Jay Edwards, Sarah Fowler Arthur, Jennifer Gross, Thomas Hall, Mike Loychik, Susan Manchester, Riordan T. McClain, Derek Merrin, Jena Powell, Craig S. Riedel, Jean Schmidt, Reggie Stoltzfus, A. Nino Vitale, Scott Wiggam, Shane Wilkin, Paul Zeltwanger.
We reached out to the sponsors and local co-sponsors of the bill, they either declined to comment or I did not hear back.
You can read the full bill introduced below. The bill has now been referred to committee.
love it!
When I was taking a concealed weapons class, they said in California you gotta keep your weapon and bullets locked in different cases when you are driving. I don't know if that is what they expect nowadays, kinda defeats the purpose of having a weapon though.