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OFCC Sues City of Cleveland Heights, Ohio The sign you see here is posted in Cleveland Heights Parks implying possession of a firearm is a crime. On Friday August 12th, 2011 Ohioans For Concealed Carry Filed a lawsuit against the City the City of Cleveland Heights. The litigation comes after many attempts to resolve concerns over laws that Cleveland Heights not only allowed to remain on their books, but also posted signs at their parks that continue to imply it is illegal to be armed. The City of Cleveland Heights has chosen to ignore our attempts at civil discourse. When individuals have contacted them representing themselves as residents of the City of Cleveland Heights their concerns apparently fell on deaf ears. When representatives of the organization have formally contacted the city's legal representation they've been laughed at and hung up on by the Law Director. It is this arrogance and refusal to work with Ohioans For Concealed Carry that has forced us to seek a remedy through the courts.
Our press release follows. Read the Full Story
Canton PD Event Leads to New OFCC Legislation When officer Harless of the Canton, Ohio police department came upon a vehicle stopped in the roadway most of us were focused on getting restaurant carry legislation signed into law. What took place that evening has become an international viral video, calls for the resignation of the City Council president, and criminal charges against a man who is clearly heard trying to state that he has a license. Ohioans For Concealed Carry has not just raised thousands of dollars in a legal defense fund, but we've written legislation to resolve this matter that Representative Danny Bubp has stated he's going to introduce this fall Read the Full Story

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Ohio joins 43 other states that permit restaurant carry

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Published on Sunday, 03 July 2011 21:45
Written by Philip Mulivor

Ohio Senate Bill 17 was signed by Governor Kasich on June 30, bringing Ohio into line with the 43 other states that allow concealed carry in establishments that serve alcohol. SB17 will become Ohio state law on Sept. 30, 2011.

There's much more to this legislation than new provisions for concealed carry in restaurants (see our companion article, New Rules for Car Carry: The Other Half of SB17), but for several years restaurant carry has been the most anticipated reform in Ohio's firearms law.

Before SB17 (2004 through September 29, 2011)

Prior to SB17, licensed concealed carry was prohibited any place alcohol was sold to be consumed on the premises, including many restaurants, sports arenas, and open-­air venues (such county fairs), as well as all bars. The common element among prohibited locations was an Ohio Class­ D liquor license. If a business held a Class D license, it was defined by law as a prohibited location for concealed carry.

However, the law has provided two exceptions to the Class D rule: CHL holders have been allowed to carry in Class D6 locations (those allowed to sell liquor on Sunday for off­-premise consumption, such as supermarkets), and Class D8 locations (those allowed to sell tasting samples of beer, wine, and mixed beverages for consumption on premises, such as wine shops). Of course, the CHL holder is prohibited from consuming alcohol in the D6 and D8 locations.

After SB17 becomes law on September 30, 2011

When SB17 takes effect, CHL holders will be able to carry in all Class D establishments. But:

  • The person may not consume beer or intoxicating liquor or be under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse. The new law provides severe penalties for violating this rule.
  • Any business, including Class D establishments, may post the appropriate signage and thereby ban all firearms from their premises, including those carried by CHL licensees.

This brief article does not identify all changes under SB17, nor does it address many details in both the old and new law. The only way to fully understand your rights and responsibilities is to read the entire law. SB17 can be downloaded here.

Although Ohio's firearms law still weighs in at about 43,000 words (more than the U.S. Constitution, Einstein's complete Theory of Relativity, and Shakespeare's Macbeth combined), SB17 goes a long way toward restoring the rights of firearms owners and bringing Ohio's restaurant carry laws in line with the overwhelming majority (84%) of the states, including all states bordering Ohio.

If your state representatives supported SB17, now is the time to call and say thanks.

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QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

Q: I have an Ohio CHL. Where will I be able to carry under the new
law that was prohibited before?
A: Establishments that sell alcohol for consumption on their premises,
such as restaurants, bars, open-air venues (e.g., county fairs), and
sports arenas, as long as they are not posted as prohibiting firearms.

Q: Can I consume beer, wine, liquor, or any type of alcohol when I’m
carrying in these locations?
A: Absolutely not. You also cannot be under the influence of alcohol or
any drug of abuse.

Q: When does the new law take effect?
A: Sept. 30, 2011

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A PDF version of this article can be downloaded HERE.

Updates, additions, or corrections to this article can be found at http://ohioccw.org

This article may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety as long as no changes are made and the source is identified as Ohioans for Concealed Carry.

Copyright © 2011 Ohioans for Concealed Carry.