The Senate Judiciary on Criminal Justice Committee, chaired by Sen. Tim Grendell (R-18), has scheduled a hearing on Wednesday, April 28 at 10:15 AM in the Senate Building’s South Hearing Room.
The committee will hear further proponent testimony on SB 239, sponsored by Senator Shannon Jones and Senator Tim Schaffer to allow citizens who hold a valid concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry a firearm in restaurants, and to reduce burdensome restrictions regarding how a license holder must transport a firearm in a car. This will be the third hearing for SB 239.
The committee will also hold its first hearing for SB 247, which will align Ohio law with federal statutes regarding the restoration of rights to Ohio firearms purchasers. Both sponsor and proponent testimony will be offered on the bill, which is co-sponsored by Sens. Niehaus, Cafaro, Grendell, Buehrer, Coughlin and Seitz.
Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman Jim Irvine stated, “We are pleased to see bi-partisan efforts to refine and improve Ohio’s current firearm laws. The Senate has two bills that address the most pressing issues facing those who legally own guns in Ohio. SB239 would allow licensed citizens to carry concealed firearms in restaurants and fix burdensome car carry rules. SB247 would align Ohio law with Federal statutes and protect citizen rights. We hope the legislature moves quickly to pass both.”
Buckeye Firearms Association is calling on the Ohio Senate to quickly move this bill through the legislative process and to send it to the House.
This Senate committee had its first hearing on SB 239 in March, and held a second hearing on April 14. The House has already held several hearings on HB 203, which also seeks to allow license-holders to carry in restaurants.
For the full text of the SB 239, visit:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_SB_239
For more information and the full text of the SB 247, visit:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_SB_247
Source: Ohio Freedom Alliance, April 25,2010