Guns in unskilled hands 'a recipe for disaster.' Training would teach safety. |Opinion
On Monday, March 14, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215 into law. The law removes the requirement making it optional for Ohioans to earn a concealed handgun license. According to the bill, any person 21 years of age and legally able to possess a firearm may carry a concealed handgun.
More: Gov. Mike DeWine signs law eliminating requirement for conceal carry gun permits
The law becomes active 90 days after receiving the governor’s signature. Previous law required Ohioans to take an eight-hour handgun course, including two hours of range time to become licensed to carry a concealed handgun.
The Good
Though the bill was largely unpopular with Democratic members of the legislature, passing entirely along party lines without support from Democrats, it may have some beneficial advantages for their constituency.
This bill does nothing to repair the relationship between law enforcement and the Black community; however, it may deter law enforcement from unduly searching people of color for weapons in hopes that they don’t possess a concealed handgun license.
More: Columbus police used force disproportionately against Black residents, study contends
The most palatable part of the law is the inclusion of an expungement process for individuals who have been convicted or pleaded guilty to violations of the notification requirements under the previous law. Notification requirements mandated a concealed handgun licensee to promptly notify law enforcement of their firearm during an official stop. Failure to do so resulted in a second-degree misdemeanor violation.
Senate Bill 215 does not require anyone legally possessing a gun to promptly tell a law enforcement officer that they have a firearm. If an individual is asked by law enforcement and lies about having a gun, the violation is considered a first-degree misdemeanor.
When discussing the bill with Ohio Legislative Black Caucus President Thomas West (D-Canton), he expressed, “The expungement clause of Senate Bill 215 does not go far enough to reconcile the convictions of Ohioans that trained and passed a background check to get their concealed handgun permits.
"Although there is an expungement process, this bill could have done more for those who qualify. Ohioans negatively impacted by the previous notification requirement should not have to apply for a lengthy process but be approved automatically or retroactively."
More: What to know about Ohio's new permitless concealed carry law
The Bad
Previously, concealed handgun licenses allowed individuals to travel to other states that provided reciprocity and recognized the license as their own. Constitutional carry or permitless carry are state-specific and are not legal across state lines.
Senate Bill 215 can be confusing and may result in felony charges if the police stop an individual in another state without a permit.
Open carry in Ohio was a readily available right, and concealed carry was a privilege for those who took the necessary steps to obtain a license to conceal a handgun legally. If licensed individuals broke the law, their license could be revoked. Under the new law, there is no such license to be leveraged.
Lastly, Senate Bill 215 is a job loss bill causing many concealed carry businesses to close in fear that no one will want to take classes anymore since it is no longer required.
The Ugly
This bill hits home for many firearm safety instructors. As a firearm instructor, I’ve witnessed the dangers that result from the lack of knowledge and failure to observe the rules of safe gun handling. I’ve seen people wounded by bullet fragments bouncing off the ground after a man negligently discharged his firearm in a failed attempt to follow the proper steps to unload his handgun at the gun counter of a firearms retailer.
More: Columbus' two Level I trauma centers see surge in gunshot wound patients
Untrained citizens handling guns in a heightened situation with the police can be a recipe for disaster. The police are not in support of this legislation, as it puts the lives of law enforcement officers in harm’s way
Concealed carry classes are about much more than how to shoot a gun. The main focus of the class is safety when handling, carrying, and storing firearms away from unauthorized persons such as children and felons.
Eliminating the requirement of an eight-hour course that provides basic firearm training and safety can be detrimental to households, neighborhoods, and communities.
More: A look back at Ohio's major gun policy changes
It is important to remember that the American justice system and lax gun laws seldomly work in favor of Black people. Ohio Legislative Black Caucus strongly encourages gun owners in Ohio, especially Black gun owners to seek the proper training to get a concealed handgun license.
John Meacham is executive director of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Opinion: What are the pros and cons of Senate Bill 215 being signed?
