COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Chairman of the House Federalism Committee, State Representative John Becker (R-Union Township), scheduled another “possible vote” on House Bill 178 this week. Last Wednesday, after hours of testimony and multiple amendments, Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) “pushed the pause button” and the vote was postponed.
The concern was an amendment from State Representative Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield) that would require pamphlets about gun laws to be given to each gun buyer. The pamphlet would include information on current law. Current law says gun owners have a “duty to retreat” when threatened outside of their homes or vehicles. That, stated Ohio Gun Owners in a letter to the Speaker, will get Ohioans killed.
Householder asked the committee to hold the bill over another week and remove the amendment.
The Federalism Committee did exactly as the Speaker asked. They met Wednesday and Representative Ron Hood (R-Ashville) offered an amendment to strip Koehler’s language from the bill. Rep. Hood and Rep. Tom Brinkman (R-Mt. Lookout) are the bill’s joint sponsors. Hood’s amendment passed 6 to 5.
Chairman Becker gave all the members time to speak to the bill before calling the vote. The Democrat members were unanimous in their opposition. One Republican, State Representative Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell) joined the Democrats in opposing the bill. He insisted “duty to notify” had to be included, but his amendment was shot down the previous week.
“Duty to notify” requires law-abiding gun owners to inform law enforcement officers they are carrying concealed. Failure to notify can result in charges against a gun owner.
The law in Ohio Revised Code section 2923.12(B)(1) says, “If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose and is carrying a concealed handgun, fail to promptly inform any law enforcement officer who approaches the person after the person has been stopped that the person has been issued a concealed handgun license and that the person then is carrying a concealed handgun…” the person can be charged with a misdemeanor of the first degree, per section (F)(3).
The final vote was 7 to 4. The bill passed.
“This is a big victory for gun owners,” exclaimed Chris Dorr, executive director of Ohio Gun Owners to The Ohio Star. “It’s the first time in 25 years since the bill was introduced it has passed out of committee.”
“Unfortunately the Speaker has publicly stated multiple times he intends to send HB 178 to Criminal Justice Committee, and gun voters are not happy about that,” stated Dorr. The Criminal Justice Committee is loaded with anti-2nd Amendment politicians on both sides of the aisle, he noted.
“The excuse for not moving the bill to the floor for a full House vote is that it allegedly needs more vetting,” he said.
The Federalism Committee held 8 hearings on HB 178 with nearly 200 individuals and organizations testifying. “How much more vetting do you need?” Dorr asked.
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Beth Lear is a reporter at The Ohio Star. Follow Beth on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
[…] Federalism committee met the following week and on June 26 a majority of members present voted to remove the Koehler amendment. Following that vote, the […]
Self defense is a crime in Ohio until we get stand your ground and constitutional carry .
One more example of the taxpayer and 2nd Amendment defender being misled by a Republican that “claims” they support the 2nd Amendment. Speaker Householder, YOU are either FOR the 2nd Amendment or you’re not. Quit being a COWARD and tell us the truth on where you stand with this issue. It is time for the electorate in the Glenford district to send Householder home for good.