A new bill has been introduced in the state legislature that would allow Ohioans to carry concealed handguns without a permit. As Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports, the bill is being met with resistance.
If you talk to Jim Irvine with the Buckeye Firearms Association, he'll tell you the state should do what some others have done: scrap the permit requirement for handguns.
"The idea that by requiring someone to get a license form the state is going to make them responsible, it just—it doesn't work," Irvine said.
But the mandatory firearm training that comes with getting a permit is a big reason to keep the current law, said Mike Weinman with the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police.
"When you eliminate that, you open up the door of folks that really don't have the experience on interacting with officers," Weinman said, "and you don't know what kind of knee jerk reaction they'll have when an officer approaches them."
The bill has the backing of nearly two dozen representatives, but firearms advocates admit it will be a tough sell.