Today, the State Senate voted 21-12 to sustain the override, with three Democratic Senators voting in favor of the measure.
My State Senator is Marc Dann (D) and new Attorney General. He is pro-gun and I sure hope he was one of the D's voting for the veto override.
He was one of those who voted to override the veto.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ohioans for Concealed Carry Applauds Historic Preemption Legislation & Gubernatorial Override
To: State Desk
Contact: Jeff Garvas of Ohioans for Concealed Carry, Web site: http://www.OhioCCW.org
CLEVELAND, Dec. 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today the Ohio Senate voted 21-12 to override Governor Bob Taft's veto of Ohio House Bill 347, joining the Ohio House's decision to override last week. This is the first time an Ohio Governor's veto has been overridden since 1977.
Ohio will now join forty-three other states that preempt all gun laws to the State level or higher, making their application consistent statewide. Research has shown that of the many assault weapon bans enacted across the State of Ohio, only three criminal convictions have ever taken place. Further, local governments can only enact minimal fines and short misdemeanor jail terms. Laws aimed at curbing violence and targeting the violent criminals that plague our society must not only be consistent statewide, they must have the ability to levy appropriate charges and serious jail sentences. This legislation provides for that.
"The framers of Ohio's Home Rule Amendment never intended for local municipalities to have authority over laws that are of statewide concern. That is not my opinion. That is written directly into the Constitution," said Jeff Garvas, president of Ohioans for Concealed Carry. "Local governments have created a patchwork of unknown laws aimed at disarming their law abiding residents in different ways than their neighbors in another town. This confusing patchwork also unfairly traps the unwary gun owner traveling through their jurisdictions. This reform isn't just needed, it's long overdue and brings Ohio in line with the rest of the country."
Ohioans for Concealed Carry would like to thank our elected representatives in the Ohio General Assembly, particularly the leadership of Representatives Jim Aslanides and Jon Husted and Senators Bill Harris, Jim Jordan, Marc Dann, Charles Wilson and Joy Padgett for banding together to ensure passage of this important legislation. They also give credit to their members and supporters; without their efforts making phone calls and sending letters this would not have been possible.
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