Ohio: House Committee to Hear Self-Defense and Right-to-Carry Reform Bill Tomorrow

Tomorrow, November 13, the state House Policy and Legislative Oversight Committee will hear opposition testimony to House Bill 203, a measure that seeks to make common sense improvements to Ohio’s current concealed carry and self-defense laws.

Sponsored by state Representative Terry Johnson (R-90), HB 203 would make the following important changes to Ohio’s current firearm laws:

• Strengthens the existing criminal background check process to obtain an Ohio Concealed Handgun License (CHL) by requiring all CHL applicants to undergo a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) compliant background check.  This improvement is a necessary step in allowing Ohio CHL holders to qualify for a NICS exemption when purchasing a firearm.
• Establishes an automatic reciprocity system.
• Eliminates the twelve-hour minimum training requirement to obtain a competency certificate required to apply for a CHL.
• Applies the same federal disqualifiers for the possession and purchase of a firearm to applicants for a CHL.
• Establishes a non-resident application process to obtain a CHL.
• Modifies the state's self-defense law. Under current law, a person has no duty to retreat before using deadly force if that person is in their own home or automobile.  This legislation would expand that to any place a person has a lawful right to be.

To view the committee meeting announcement, click here.  Please call AND e-mail members of the state House Policy and Legislative Committee and urge them to support HB 203.  Their contact information is provided below.

House Policy and Legislative Oversight Committee:

Representative Mike Dovilla (R-07), Chairman
(614) 466-4895
E-mail

Representative Jim Buchy (R-84), Vice Chairman
(614) 466-6344
E-mail

Representative Ronald V. Gerberry (D-59), Ranking Minority
(614) 466-6107
E-mail

Representative John Adams (R-85)
(614) 466-1507
E-mail

Representative Louis W. Blessing III (R-29)
(614) 466-9091
E-mail

Representative Andrew Brenner (R-67)
(614) 644-6711
E-mail

Representative Jack Cera (D-96)
(614) 466-3735
E-mail

Representative Kathleen Clyde (D-75)
(614) 466-2004
E-mail

Representative Michael F. Curtin (D-17)
(614) 644-6005
E-mail

Representative Teresa Fedor (D-45)
(614) 644-6017
E-mail

Representative Matt Huffman (R-04)
(614) 466-9624
E-mail

Representative Dorothy Pelanda (R-86)
(614) 466-8147
E-mail

Representative Rick Perales (R-73)
(614) 644-6020
E-mail