Ohio Supreme Court Rules Concealed Carry Ban Does Not Violate State Constitution

The Ohio Supreme Court on Sept. 24 ruled that the law prohibiting concealed carry is constitutional. People’s Rights Organization (PRO) was asked by the Second Amendment Foundation to be a co-plaintiff in this lawsuit, which started in Hamilton County. Judges in two lower courts had agreed that the statewide ban was unconstitutional. Finding a political decision, rather than a decision based on the findings of these two lower courts and highly powerful arguments, the court decision has created a tougher situation for concealed carry.

There are many who compromised early on, and others who even today say Ohioans must accept any kind of concealed carry bill Gov. Taft will sign. PRO has never agreed with this position. This continued compromising has continually damaged the process toward responsible concealed carry legislation being passed. We now have in hand a horribly weak, intrusive bill that actually can cause harm. This bill will make targets out of women riding with children in their automobile. This is clearly a Supreme Court decision that went against the wishes of Ohio's women and men who want to carry a firearm to protect themselves and their loved ones. As a result, the Supreme Court decision emboldens anti-gun lawmakers, and has now given cover to those lawmakers in the Ohio General Assembly who are on the fence on the issue.

The latter will likely defer to the Supreme Court decision. We predict that Gov. Taft will not waver from his "take it or leave it" version of legislation that started as Ohio House Bill 12. This is dangerous legislation because of its intrusive requirements, and because of changes insisted on by the FOP police union. We warned of this from the beginning. We warned that compromise early on was a dangerous tact. Internet groups now are saying that one major law enforcement agency is agreeing with a warning first brought to Ohio lawmakers' attention by PRO months ago. This had to do with the requirement that the concealed firearm owner remove and unload their firearm then store it when they entered their automobile. This repeated handling of a firearm in itself is a dangerous practice, as any gun owner knows. Now police are chiming in and agreeing with PRO original assessment.

Regardless, the bill approved by the Ohio Senate and rejected by the Ohio House is currently in limbo. Ohio Senate President Doug White has refused to appoint members to a conference committee to work out differences between the Senate and Ohio House versions of the bill.

We will continue to monitor the situation at the Ohio Statehouse and bring you regular updates. PRO members continue to work with lawmakers to pass a concealed carry bill that makes sense for Ohioans.

People's Rights Organization