The Ohio Senate voted separately on SB239 and SB247 today, but the tally was 23-10 in both cases and the bills have been sent on their way to the Ohio House of Representatives where they will inevitably be assigned to a committee and the hearing process will begin anew, likely after the summer recess if not well into the fall.

After intense debate an opposition repeating the same tired arguments we've heard since adopting concealed carry the Senate chamber voted with just over 2/3rds of the Senate in favor of the bills.    SB239 is the "restaurant carry" bill that includes language to ease restrictions on how you must transport a firearm in a vehicle.    SB247 is a rights restoration bill that brings Ohio law into compliance with federal requirements to restore firearms rights to those who petition for it with the federal government.  An amendment was adopted without opposition to clarify the "intent of the legislature" and likely assisted in the final vote.