Ohio: House Committee to Vote on Self-Defense and Right-to-Carry Reform Bill Next Tuesday

On Tuesday, November 19, the state House Policy and Legislative Oversight Committee will consider and likely vote on 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 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 the first 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 as well as your state Representative and urge them to support HB 203 next Tuesday.  The committee member contact information is provided below:

House Policy and Legislative Oversight Committee:

Representative Mike Dovilla (R-7), 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-4)
(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