Ohio Reform of Gun Free Zone Penalties

Gun Watch ^ | 6 July, 2017 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

A bill being considered in the Ohio legislature would reform the penalties for someone carrying a concealed handgun in current "gun free" zones. Current penalties are extreme.

A person who inadvertently enters such a zone in Ohio is subject to a felony charge, a maximum of 12 months in prison, and a $2,500 fine. A felony conviction removes the right to vote, or to own a fire arm under the Second Amendment.  People who have concealed carry permits are, statistically, some of the most law abiding people in the country. They are far more law abiding than the population at large, and are ten times as law abiding as police officers.  From wcbe.org:

The Republican-sponsored bill would let concealed carry license holders take their guns into gun-free zones including restaurants, schools and courthouses as long as they’re not caught. If they are caught and if they leave immediately they won't face criminal charges.

Luke Entelis, with Everytown for Gun Safety, says this would put the burden on business owners and school employees to confront the gun owner.

From HB 233: 

 C)(1) No person who has a valid license to carry a concealed handgun or who is a qualified military member and is discovered carrying a concealed handgun onto land or premises in violation of a sign posted pursuant to division (C)(3)(a) of section 2923.126 of the Revised Code or in violation of section 2923.12, 2923.121, 2923.122, or 2923.123 of the Revised Code shall do either of the following:

(a) Refuse or fail to leave the land or premises upon being requested to do so by the owner, lessee, or person in control of the land or premises or by the individual's agent or employee;

(b) Return within thirty days to the same land or premises while knowingly in possession of a firearm in violation of a sign posted pursuant to division (C)(3)(a) of section 2923.126 of the Revised Code or in violation of section 2923.12, 2923.121, 2923.122, or 2923.123 of the Revised Code.

The penalties would be similar to other non-violent acts, such as Disturbing a lawful meeting, Failure to disperse, or Selling or donating contaminated blood.

HB 233 has 51 co-sponsors. With the sponsor, that is 52 votes. There are 132 votes in the general assembly. One of the co-sponsors is Speaker of the House Clifford A. Rosenberger.  There are 24 Republicans in the Senate, and 9 Democrats. There are 66 Republicans in the House, and 33 Democrats. The Ohio Governor is John Kasich, who has an A rating from the National Rifle Association.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

[marktwain]

Reducing the penalites is a "good first step".

[Whenifhow]

OHIO PING!!!

Article and comments

Thanks, marktwain

[RC one]

Luke Entelis, with Everytown for Gun Safety, says this would put the burden on business owners and school employees to confront the gun owner.

Luke Entelis is a lawyer from New York who thinks he knows what is best for Ohioans. He most definitely does not however.

This bill releases business owners from liability, empowers law abiding citizens, and strips power away from criminals. No sign is going to stop a criminal from walking into a business with a gun. No law is going to stop a murderer from murdering. No law is going to protect a Law Enforcement agent from someone that intends to kill them. All these laws do is empower criminals and make law abiding citizens LESS SAFE.

The arguments for strict gun control laws are not supported by facts, reality, statistics, or evidence. It is based on politics and supported by pseudoscience and perpetuated by people like Luke Entelis who seek to exploit this issue for their own personal gain.

This change represents reasonable gun control.

[PROCON]

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