Senate Bill 199 Signed, Ohio Universities Decide Whether to Partake.
Ohio universities have just a few short weeks to decide whether to allow concealed weapons on their campuses. Senate Bill 199 was among a total of 17 signed by Governor John Kasich on December 19, 2016. It will take effect on March 20, 2017.
The new bill allows Ohioans to carry concealed firearms in public places such as daycare centers, school safety zones and public areas of airports. It gives colleges and universities the decision whether to allow weapons on their campuses.
Private businesses still have the decision of whether to keep the ban in their facilities. The people of Ohio will also be able to keep their guns in their cars, which are considered private property. The new law states that if the guns are in the concealed carry permit holder’s vehicle, then firearms are allowed inside school safety zones. The location of the vehicle will not play a factor.
Senator Joe Uecker (Republican, 14), a primary sponsor of Senate Bill 199, says, “If someone is wanting to drop off their kid at daycare, they’d have to stop up the street and put their firearm in the trunk, and then get back in their car and drive the rest of the way.”
Uecker adds that accidents are more prone to happen if people are constantly taking their firearms in and out of vehicles just to meet conceal and carry standards.
“The safest way to carry a firearm is on you and never take it off until the end of the day or until you absolutely need it to defend yourself,” says Uecker.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, all 50 states allow citizens to carry concealed weapons if they meet certain state requirements.
Currently, 23 states allow their college and universities to decide whether to allow concealed weapons on campus, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Reports read that Utah is the only state that prohibits its colleges from banning concealed carry.
According to Buckeye Firearms Association, several Ohio colleges want to authorize staff to carry firearms. Some colleges are open to the idea of anyone with a CHL carrying on campus and others will start with limited permission likely starting with faculty.
But, of the 13 public universities in Ohio, all but 6 schools have said no to allowing concealed weapons on their campuses. The 6 (The Ohio State University, University of Akron, Central State University, Northeast Ohio Medical University and Youngstown State University) that did not say yes, remain undecided.
“Some institutions may choose in the future to allow certain individuals to be able to conceal-carry, but we’ve left it upon them to make that decision,” says Uecker. “Not every campus feels the same and this is a step, a baby step, towards where we would like to see the 2nd amendment be respected.”
Below is a statement that The University of Akron issued in late December related to this legislation and it still holds:
“The University of Akron Board of Trustees has not yet discussed this legislation, which does not go into effect for ninety days following the governor’s signature. The new law will permit university boards of trustees to allow concealed carry on campus but does not require board action. If a board opts not to act, then the current prohibition would prevail.”
Seth Bauguess, Director of Communications at Wright State University, says:
“Our president, police chief and student government association (SGA) have taken a public stance that they object to allowing concealed weapons on our campuses and do not believe allowing them would make our campuses safer.”
Dave Kielmeyer, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, says Bowling Green State University President Mary Ellen Mazey will recommend to its Board of Trustees that the current ban on concealed carry remain in place on their campuses.
“It is important to understand that the law maintains the prohibition on carrying concealed on college campuses. It allows, but does not require, the Boards of Trustees to adopt a policy permitting concealed carry. The trustees are not required to take action.”
Some argue that the bill may be putting people in danger while others argue that it could help prevent acts of violence, such as mass shootings or similar attacks.
SB 199 will not be subject to active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, exempting them from the concealed carry requirements. The bill will make many changes in the Concealed Handgun Law in regards to a person who is an active duty member of the U.S. armed forces under these conditions:
- If they are carrying a valid military identification card
- If they contain a certificate issued by the person’s applicable service branch saying that the person has successfully completed small arms qualification.
“We thought it was a good time to make it proactive as opposed to reactionary,” says Uecker.
