Carry Concealed Bill Passes Senate as Legislators Argue Civil Rights of Permit Holders

Late Wednesday night, the Ohio Senate passed House Bill 48 which opens the restrictions on “Forbidden Zones” where guns can not be present.

The lifted zones include daycares and universities. Universities would still be able to have rules in place to prevent/and reprimand students from carry concealed on campus, similar to Open Carry which is legal on campus but subject to punishment due to student code.

This all comes ahead of a controversial bill, Bill 199, that would aim to make concealed-carry permit holders a protected class under employment discrimination.

The bill aims to push concealed-carry holders to same class as race, gender, age or religious protections under the Ohio Civil Rights Act. This bill specifically deals with people who keep guns locked in their vehicles.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce opposes the bill, along with Ohio Manufacturers’ Association oppose the bill.

Bill 199 is drawing ire from many but most notably is the LGBTQ community who have unsuccessfully pushed for the same elevation and that those under the LGBTQ flag be granted employment protections.

The NRA and the Buckeye Firearms Association don’t see how employers have a right to restrict what their employees keep in their personal cars while working.

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