Malcolm Rivera
On March 14, 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215, making Ohio the 23rd US state to allow constitutional carry. The bill, which took effect on June 13, 2022, permits Ohioans aged 21 and above to carry a concealed firearm without a permit or training. DeWine's decision has been praised by gun rights advocates but criticized by gun control groups, law enforcement, and public health researchers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date signed | March 14, 2022 |
| Governor | Mike DeWine |
| State | Ohio |
| Bill | Senate Bill 215 |
| Effective date | June 13, 2022 |
| Bill sponsor | Senator Terry Johnson |
| Co-sponsors | Chairman Shane Wilkin, other lawmakers |
| Bill passage | 57-35 in the House; party-line vote in the Senate |
| Previous gun laws | 8 hours of training and background check required |
| New gun laws | No permit, training, or background check required |
| Opposition | Democrats, police organizations, anti-gun violence activists, public health researchers, Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, Ohio Mayors Alliance |
| Support | Buckeye Firearms Association, National Rifle Association, Second Amendment supporters |
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What You'll Learn
- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signs the constitutional carry bill
- DeWine's decision makes Ohio the 23rd constitutional carry state
- The bill removes the need for permits, training and background checks
- The bill eliminates penalties for motorists who fail to disclose firearms
- The bill was opposed by police and gun control organisations
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signs the constitutional carry bill
On March 14, 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215, making Ohio the 23rd constitutional carry state in the US. The bill allows Ohio residents to carry a concealed firearm without a permit or training.
The bill, often referred to as "permitless carry", removes the requirement for Ohioans to undergo training and pass a background check to carry a concealed weapon. It also eliminates the need for motorists to proactively inform law enforcement officers about carrying a concealed firearm in their vehicles during traffic stops. However, drivers must still truthfully disclose whether they have a gun if asked by an officer.
Supporters of the bill argue that it protects the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms without government red tape and delays. The National Rifle Association (NRA) expressed its gratitude to Governor DeWine for signing the bill, stating that it upholds the Second Amendment in Ohio.
However, the bill has faced opposition from various groups, including Democrats, police organizations, anti-gun violence activists, and public health researchers. They argue that reducing training and permit requirements will make communities less safe and increase the risk of gun violence. The Ohio Democratic Party Chair, Liz Walters, criticized the bill, stating that it will make all Ohioans less safe.
Governor DeWine's decision to sign the constitutional carry bill has been controversial. While it fulfills his campaign promise to the Buckeye Firearms Association, it goes against his pledge to curb gun deaths and take action to decrease gun violence.
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DeWine's decision makes Ohio the 23rd constitutional carry state
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a bill on Monday, March 14, 2022, permitting law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms without a permit. Senate Bill 215, which takes effect on June 13, 2022, allows anyone 21 or older to carry a concealed firearm unless state or federal law prohibits them from possessing a gun.
Supporters of the bill argue that it allows residents to exercise their Second Amendment right to carry guns without having to deal with government red tape and delays. They also claim that the U.S. and Ohio constitutions guarantee the right to bear arms, and neither mentions anything about training requirements. In 2018, DeWine indicated to the pro-gun rights Buckeye Firearms Association that he would support legislation to allow people to carry concealed firearms without a permit.
However, opponents of the bill, including police organisations, argue that it will make communities less safe. They worry that fewer training requirements will increase the vulnerability of Ohioans and law enforcement officials to gun violence. The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, and the Ohio Mayors Alliance were among those who opposed the bill. The Ohio Democratic Party Chair, Liz Walters, stated that "This bill will make all Ohioans less safe."
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The bill removes the need for permits, training and background checks
On March 20, 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215, which allows Ohioans to carry a concealed firearm without a permit or training. The bill removes the need for permits, training, and background checks for individuals 21 years or older to carry a concealed firearm.
Previously, Ohio required individuals to obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon, which entailed passing a background check and completing eight hours of training. With the new bill in place, individuals in Ohio no longer need a license to carry a concealed firearm. This change aligns with the concept of constitutional carry, which means that the state's law does not prohibit citizens who can legally possess a firearm from carrying handguns openly or concealed, eliminating the need for a state permit.
Supporters of the bill, including the Buckeye Firearms Association and the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, argue that it protects the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to carry guns without government red tape and delays. They also believe that it will make Ohioans safer by lifting restrictions on their ability to carry concealed firearms. Additionally, SB215 eliminates the requirement for motorists to proactively inform law enforcement about concealed handguns during traffic stops, unless specifically asked by an officer.
However, opponents of the bill, including police organizations and the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, argue that reducing training requirements will make communities less safe. They believe that the bill goes against efforts to curb gun violence and will increase the vulnerability of Ohioans and law enforcement to gun-related incidents. Critics also highlight the irony of Governor DeWine's decision, noting that it contradicts his previous pledge to curb gun deaths and address gun violence in the state.
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The bill eliminates penalties for motorists who fail to disclose firearms
On Monday, March 15, 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215, allowing Ohio residents aged 21 and above to carry concealed firearms without a permit. This decision has made Ohio the 23rd constitutional carry state.
The bill also eliminates penalties for motorists who fail to disclose firearms. Previously, drivers who failed to inform law enforcement officers about carrying a concealed gun during traffic stops faced a first-degree misdemeanour, a suspension of their concealed-handgun license, and a fine of $1,000. With the new bill in place, motorists are no longer required to proactively inform law enforcement about concealed firearms in their vehicles. However, they must truthfully disclose this information if asked by an officer.
Supporters of the bill, including the Buckeye Firearms Association, argue that it will make Ohioans safer by lifting restrictions on their ability to carry concealed firearms. They also claim that it allows residents to exercise their Second Amendment right to bear arms without government red tape and delays. Additionally, many state residents will likely continue applying for permits to carry concealed firearms in other states that require them.
Opponents of the bill, including Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey and the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, argue that it will make the state more dangerous for residents and law enforcement. They worry that reducing training and permit requirements will negatively impact community safety. Critics also accuse Governor DeWine of prioritizing his political interests over the safety of his constituents.
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The bill was opposed by police and gun control organisations
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed the Senate Bill 215, or the Constitutional Carry Bill, into law on Monday, March 20, 2022. The bill allows Ohio residents to carry a concealed firearm without a permit, as long as they are aged 21 or above and are not prohibited by state or federal law.
The bill eliminates penalties for motorists who fail to inform law enforcement officers about carrying concealed firearms in their vehicles during traffic stops. Previously, drivers faced a first-degree misdemeanor, suspension of their concealed handgun license, and a fine of $1,000 if they did not disclose the presence of a concealed firearm. Opponents of the bill argue that this will make it more difficult for law enforcement officers to safely approach a vehicle during a traffic stop.
Gun control and regulation are not the same as elimination, and many see requirements like training and permits as common sense rather than Draconian. Most people would likely feel safer in the company of a trained, licensed gun owner than an untrained one. The signing of the bill by Governor DeWine was seen by some as a betrayal of his promise to curb gun deaths and reduce gun violence.
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Frequently asked questions
Mike DeWine signed the constitutional carry bill, also known as Senate Bill 215, on March 7, 2022.
The bill allows Ohio residents to carry a concealed firearm without a permit or training.
The bill makes Ohio the 23rd constitutional carry state, upholding the Second Amendment and protecting the right to bear arms.
Critics argue that the bill will increase gun violence and make communities less safe by removing training and permit requirements for carrying concealed firearms.
