| Unlike Others, Montgomery County Fairgrounds Complies with Ohio Law |
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| Written by Mike Kinsey | |
| Friday, 21 July 2006 | |
Section 2923.126 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) mandates a prohibition of concealed firearms in, “Any building that is owned by this state or any political subdivision of this state.” While the ORC specifically and unambiguously states that buildings are off-limits to those desiring a means of self-defense, many county officials are taking the law into their own hands by extending that prohibition to all fairground property. The Ohio Attorney General, Mr. Jim Petro, has gone so far as to issue an official legal opinion on the matter in which he states,
“…a board of county commissioners may not prohibit a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun under R.C. 2923.125 or R.C. 2923.1213 from carrying a concealed handgun on property that is not within a building.”The Montgomery County Fairgrounds has recently become another example of county property that was made to realize the error of its ways. Ohioans For Concealed Carry is pleased to report that as of July 19, all improperly posted signs have been removed. Upon hearing the complaint raised by an OFCC member, reading the Attorney General’s opinion, and consulting with attorneys, Major Michael Nolan of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office promptly contacted Dan Bullen, General Manager of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds and ordered the removal of the signs. After a few weeks had passed and no action was taken, Mr. Bullen was contacted by the OFCC member to ask why the fairgrounds continued to knowingly ignore the direction of the Sheriff’s office. The signs were removed the following day. Unfortunately, many county fairgrounds are still improperly posted and refuse to follow Ohio law. At the time of this writing, the Clermont County Agricultural Society (CCAS) is attempting to have their cake and eat it too. They claim that the fairgrounds are private property and do not fall under the jurisdiction of the cited ORC. At the same time, this “private organization” appears to be receiving real estate tax exemptions coded for government entities and has other traits that would lead one to believe they are in fact a political subdivision and are bound by the ORC to remove their improperly posted signs. Ohioans For Concealed Carry is currently seeking an injunction or temporary restraining order against the Fairgrounds and/or the Clermont County Sheriff’s office to impede any arrests regarding a legally licensed citizen entering the fairgrounds while carrying a concealed handgun for self-defense. Resources: The Attorney General’s opinion can be found in its entirety on the Ohio AG website at: http://www.ag.state.oh.us/legal/opinions/2005/2005-015.pdf |