Taft may veto concealed-carry gun law
Says bill must allow public access to permit-holder info
By William Hershey, Laura A. Bischoff
Friday, December 12, 2003
COLUMBUS -- Gov. Bob Taft said he will veto legislation giving law-abiding Ohioans the right to carry concealed handguns because the bill doesn't give the public and media adequate access to personal information about permit-holders.
"There needs to be access by the press and the public to records to make sure the sheriffs are doing their jobs, to make sure the right people get permits and the wrong people, the people with felony records, people with other kinds of problems don't get concealed carry permits," Taft said Thursday.
The threat cast a cloud over passage of the legislation after what Senate President Doug White, R-Manchester, said had been 20 years of work by concealed-carry supporters.
The Senate passed the bill 25-8 about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday before adjourning for the year. The House passed it 70-27 about 1 a.m. Thursday before wrapping up its session. The legislature returns in January for the second year of the legislative session.
Taft will have 10 days to veto the concealed-carry bill once it reaches his desk.
The legislation would give reporters access to concealed-carry records on a name-by-name basis. Taft said that wasn't adequate. He originally demanded that the bill make the names, birth dates and counties or residence of permit holders open to the public.
He agreed to a compromise that would give journalists -- but not the public -- access to databases of all permit holders kept by county sheriffs. Senate Republicans agreed. House Republicans didn't.
"If you look at the true intent of concealed carry, it is that criminals do not know who is carrying and so when you go out and do full disclosure you really are breaking the intent of the bill," said House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford.
Householder said he can muster the 60 votes in the 99-member House needed to override a veto.
White has said he doesn't think he would be able to get the 20 votes needed to override a veto in the 33-member Senate.
"We act like it's this big taboo," Householder said of a veto override.
It appears that the concealed-carry bill will be his third non-budget veto.
In a related development, state Sen. Eric Fingerhut, D-Shaker Heights, appeared in Dayton with Mayor Rhine McLin and Sen. Tom Roberts, D-Trotwood, urging citizens to urge Taft to follow through with the veto.
Fingerhut was making a campaign swing in his race next year against U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio.
The bill would be a "serious threat to our police officers who are already under stress and strain," McLin said.
Also, the House approved legislation implementing recommendations from Taft's Commission on Teaching Success. It differs from the Senate version, so a conference committee may be appointed.
The House and Senate also gave final approval to legislation sponsored by Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Butler Twp., giving law enforcement increased authority to disperse riots. Taft is expected to sign it, spokesman Orest Holubec said.
