by Joseph P. Tartaro | Executive Editor
The Ohio House and Senate in early December passed legislation that would make major changes to the state’s concealed carry licensing requirements, including reducing training requirements and expanding recognition of out-of-state licenses. The House vote was 69-16, the Senate vote was 24-6, sending the measure to Gov. John Kasich (R) for his consideration
The measure, House Bill 234, would also allow the use of suppressors on firearms while hunting. If signed by the governor, it would make the Buckeye State the 29th state to allow hunters to use suppressors, primarily for hunting varmints and birds. Hunting with suppressed firearms provides numerous benefits to sportsmen, including the elimination of noise complaints, reduction of recoil, increased accuracy and reduction of muzzle report to hearing-safe levels.
Under the bill, the number of training hours needed to obtain a concealed-carry permit would be reduced from 12 to 8. At least two of those hours would have to consist of in-person training.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that other parts of the bill would:
- Scrap a residency rule;
- Automatically recognize concealed handgun licenses issued by any state that recognizes Ohio’s licenses. Currently, such reciprocity only happens when the state attorney general enters into a written agreement with another state;
- Make Ohio compliant with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, so anyone with a state handgun license doesn’t have to get an NICS check when they purchase a firearm;
- Prohibit concealed weapons licenses from being issued to people who hold a nonimmigrant visa or who have been dishonorably discharged from the US military; and
- Establish a six-month grace period to renew a concealed handgun license for members of the military, AmeriCorps, or the US Foreign Service, as well as immediate family members.
Many of the proposed changes to Ohio’s conceal-carry law were moved to HB-234 from a different gun bill that included a so-called “stand your ground” self-defense provision.
Originally, HB-234, was sponsored by state Rep. Cheryl Grossman (R-23rd Dist.).
The NRA reported two additional pro-gun measures; allowing the transfer of long guns in non-contiguous states and requiring a chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) to sign off on an application to transfer any NFA-regulated item.
