Ohioans For Concealed Carry has maintained that when a county fairgrounds posts "No Guns" signs at their parking lots and entry gates they are doing so in conflict with Ohio Law.  When the county fairgrounds are owned by a county government then the only legitimate "No Guns"  signs are those that are mandated at the entry to each building.

Posting the open areas of a fair is prohibited even if the fair is run by an Agricultural Society.  AG Societies, although typically non-profit corporations, are often funded by county government, or simply running county property.  The Preble County Prosecutor requested an opinion from Attorney General Jim Petro over this matter last year and the formal opinion of the Attorney General was that county fairgrounds may not prohibit CCW in areas other than a building, even if they are charging you to enter the fairgrounds.

Today's Cincinnati Enquirer story, Don't bring gun to Clermont County fair, covers the story of an individual unknown to OFCC who read on our website that Clermont County signs violate the law.  This individual advised the fair that he would be carrying a firearm to the county fair, at which point they sounded the alarm that doing so will be illegal.  The Cincinatti Enquirer did not contact OFCC before writing this story.

The President of the Clermont County Agricultural Society is none other than Sergeant William Scharber of the Clermont County Sheriffs Office, who threatens that anyone who comes to his fair carrying a firearm will be in "a lot of trouble."

But even if you have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, you must leave your gun at home or lock it in your car for the July 23-29 Clermont County fair in Owensville, according to William Scharber, president of the Clermont County Agricultural Society, which organizes the event.

The fairgrounds is owned by the agricultural society, so it's private property, making the Clermont fair exempt from the Ohio law, Scharber said. "People have got to realize they're in a lot of trouble" if they try to bring a gun into the fair, said Scharber, who's also a sergeant with the county sheriff's office.

Someone convicted of such a misdemeanor could receive up to 30 days in jail and be fined up to $250, according to state law.

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has shared our concerns with the Cincinnati Enquirer and we are looking into our options with the Clermont County Fair, the Agricultural Society, and the Sheriff's Office.

If the opinion of the Attorney General is correct, and if an Agricultural Society is in fact a political subdivision as we believe, then prohibiting concealed carry anywhere other than the buildings within a fair property is in conflict with Ohio's Concealed Carry law and we will pursue those violations in every manner available to us.