Packing Your Gat: Good News!

I didn't think he'd do it, but I was wrong.  You may want to make note of this date, because it's one of the very few times I've been wrong about something and admitted it.  Usually there's extenuating circumstances that affected my less than accurate statements, but this time I was just plain incorrect.

Because, you see, on Monday, March 14^th, 2022, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215 into law, which means that the law abiding, freedom loving, gun owners of Ohio no longer need a license to carry a concealed weapon.

Continue reading for a few valuable links and commentary.  Stop reading if you're a precious little snowflake with a sensitive nature.

The Ohio Legislature passed Substitute Senate Bill Number 215 (134th General Assembly) by a comfortable margin, meaning the number of votes wasn't a landslide, but it could be defined as veto-proof by a small margin.  Had Governor DeWine chosen to veto the bill, it would have gone back to the legislature for another vote, which could have over-ridden the governor's veto.

Governors hate being vetoed.  It reflects badly on their social standing and tends to erode their power base.  Governor DeWine knows this, but I don't think it keeps him awake many nights.

DeWine could have ignored the whole business, which is what I thought he'd do.  In Ohio, should the state governor ignore a bill sitting quietly in his IN box, it becomes law in ten days without his signature.  In this case he could have made a convincing argument to the freedom-hating Democrats that his veto would be over-ridden, and that the Democratic party had months to put a stop to this nefarious legislation and failed to do so.

All this being the case, don't pocket your pistol just yet.  As reported by Buckeye Firearms, a lobby group who worked hard to get this legislation passed, Ohio Governor DeWine Signs BFA-Supported Permitless Carry Bill.  From the release:

At approximately 4:50 p.m. on Monday, March 14, 2022, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215, which will make it legal to carry a concealed handgun without a license in Ohio 91 days after it is filed by the Secretary of State.

The bill is 30 pages long and contains a plethora of references to The Code, a truly mystifying tome which may be interpreted by an elite cadre of the priesthood, but never contradicted or interpreted by the hoi polloi, the great unwashed, or the common people.  Even uncommon people are prohibited... I'm digressing.

Fortunately, some kind soul has translated this legalize into common speech and published it:

Bill Analysis

This is extremely helpful.  While I'm happy about this recent change in Ohio law, not everyone shares my opinion.  What a surprise, right?  Here are three examples:

Dewine Signs Bill Changing Ohio's Concealed Carry Requirements

...but some local leaders like Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey have spoken out against the bill.

"What this (bill) represents in my mind, honestly, is lawlessness...it represents the wild, wild west," McGuffey said in February. "It puts our officer at risk. It puts one more layer onto what could be a very stressful situation for the officer."

Hamilton County is basically Cincinnati, Ohio.  A large city on the southern border, you'll pass through it on your way to Kentucky.  Me, I'd stay out of Hamilton County whenever I could.

Latyna M. Humphrey District 26 (D)

 

“Democrats offered several gun safety amendments to SB 215; however, all of the amendments were rejected by Republicans. The lack of regard for the safety of Ohioans is utterly disrespectful. This bill is reckless and should not become law,” said Rep. Humphrey.

Needless to say, Humphrey is either so stupid she believes her own story, or hates freedom, or a combination of the two.

Hearcel F. Craig Senate District 15 (D)

He voted 'No' on SB-215, but he's smart enough to keep his fat yap shut.

That may sound a bit harsh, but I suppose there's a chance that Hearcel isn't buying into the anti-freedom party line stable dressing that the moonbats shovel out every day, but he needs the moonbat vote to get elected.  I'll have to read up on Hearcel a little and see what he's actually been up to.

So who voted yes?  Check here: Ohio Senate Bill 215 Session 134 voting records.  If you have the time and inclination, send a few of these people a congratulatory e-mail.  They worked hard to get this into law, and every single one of them knows the moonbats will challenge this bill and seek to pervert it any way they can - legal or not, it makes no difference to a freedom hating Democrat.

Thanks for reading!