House Bill 48, known as the “guns everywhere” bill, is scheduled for hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Ohio Senate’s Government Oversight and Reform Committee. The bill could be passed out of committee and sent to the Senate floor for a vote on Wednesday.
HB 48 would reduce the offense for unauthorized carrying of a concealed handgun on the premises of an institution of higher education from a felony to a minor misdemeanor, if the offender produces a valid conceal/carry license within ten days of arrest. This is the equivalent of a first time speeding ticket or failure to register a dog.
The bill also would allow Ohio colleges and universities to develop a policy for allowing conceal/carry of handguns on campus and grant institutions immunity from liability caused by a conceal/carry licensee bringing a gun on to campus.
Here’s what you can do to help:
1) Call the offices of the Republican members of the Senate Committee and ask them to vote NO on HB 48. You may also click on their names below and send e-mails through their contact forms. Phone calls are more effective, though.
–Chairman Bill Coley: (614) 466-8072
–Bill Seitz: (614) 466-8068
–Troy Balderson: (614) 466-8076
–Dave Burke: (614) 466-8049
–Kris Jordan: (614) 466-8086
–Frank LaRose: (614) 466-4823
–Larry Obhof: (614) 466-7505
–Tom Patton: (614) 466-8056
–Bob Peterson: (614) 466-8156
2) Contact the State Senator that represents you — either by phone or by using our online form — to tell them you oppose HB 48.
–Click here to find your Senator’s phone number.
–Click here to use our online form to send a message to your Senator.