A new bill would drop training and background check requirements for concealed weapon permits in Ohio.
The bill comes from Republican State Rep. Ron Hood and has 20 House co-sponsors.
Supporters of the bill, like the pro-gun Buckeye Firearms Association, say Ohio’s current regulatory framework places an undue burden on concealed weapon carriers.
A bill that recently took affect lowers the training requirement for a CCW permit in Ohio from 12 to eight hours. It also toughens the background check.
“Is there a case for having a big registration scheme and having people pay fees to the state to exercise a constitutional right?” asked Jim Irbvine of the Buckeye Firearms Association.
“And I think a lot of people are finding, no, you can’t make a good case for that. And if you can’t, then why are we doing it?”
But the mandatory firearm training that comes with getting a permit is a big reason to keep the current law, says Mike Weinman with the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police.
“When you eliminate that, you open up the door to folks who really don’t have the experience of interacting with officers and you don’t know what kind of knee jerk reaction they’ll have when an officer approaches them and things like that,” Weinman said.
The bill has the backing of nearly two dozen representatives, but firearms advocates admit it will be a tough sell.