Will Concealed Guns Be Allowed In Schools, Day Cares, & Churches?
Published: Jul 17, 2017 by John IzzoRepresentative John Becker (R- Clermont County) sponsored House Bill 233, also known as the Decriminalization Effort for the Ending Notorious Deaths’ or DEFEND. Despite opposition from law enforcement, prosecutors, and business groups, HB 233 passed the Ohio House by an unofficial vote of 64-31.
Under HB 233, licensees who enter a prohibited place would not face criminal charges unless they were asked to leave and refused to do so. Prohibited places include schools, day cares, and churches. Under the current law, having a firearm in a prohibited place can result in criminal charges or confiscation of the firearm. Rep. Becker stated HB 233 does not expand on the list of locations where concealed guns are allowed. Instead, HB 233 removes the mandatory criminal penalty for a person who inadvertently carries a gun into a prohibited place. Under the terms of the HB 233, licensees could inadvertently carry a firearm to the no gun zone once every 30 days without prosecution.
HB 233 is now in the State Senate following its approval by the House. Should it pass through the Senate unchanged, persons with a concealed handgun license carrying a deadly weapon are subject to removal from the location, and not a fourth-degree felony. Their refusal to leave will be a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
If you have any questions about a conceal carry license in Ohio, or how to become licensed, you should consider contacting an attorney at Graff & McGovern. John Izzo of Graff & McGovern can be reached at 614-228-5800, extension 5, or at johnizzo@grafflaw.com.