COLUMBUS — The Ohio House passed a new bill that would allow Ohioans 21 and older to conceal carry a gun without a concealed carry permit in the state.
The vote was 60-32 in favor of the bill. It now will move to the Ohio Senate for consideration.
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The bill, which is also known as “constitutional carry” or “permitless carry”, is supported by the Buckeye Firearms Association.
“Ohio is far behind other states in recognizing Ohioans’ right to freely carry firearms without a burdensome licensing process,” said Dean Rieck, Executive Director of Buckeye Firearms Association. “There is no other Constitutional right where we tolerate so many barriers. In 21 other states, no licensing is required. It is time for Constitutional Carry in Ohio.”
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State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) has been an opponent of the bill, saying the current requirement for concealed carry are the bare minimum and not overly burdensome, according to a report from the Columbus Dispatch.
“Now you have a scenario where you walk up to a car where a guy doesn’t tell you and this guy shifts in his seat and you see his gun, it makes the dynamics of the traffic stop that much different,” Weinman told the Dispatch.
State Representatives Phil Plummer, Jena Powell, Rodney Creech and Kyle Koehler voted in favor of passing the bill.