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POLITICS

Kentucky just let people carry concealed guns without a permit. Ohio introduces a similar bill.

Jessie Balmert
Cincinnati Enquirer
Members of Moms Demand Action protested Kentucky's move to eliminate permits for concealed carry. Ohio lawmakers introduced a similar bill Wednesday.

COLUMBUS - Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin just signed a law allowing residents to carry a concealed gun without a permit and the prerequisite training.

Republican lawmakers want Ohio to follow suit.

House Bill 174, introduced Wednesday by Mount Lookout's Rep. Tom Brinkman, would allow anyone legally permitted to have a gun to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Ohio already allows open carry without any licensing.  

"We need to get our constitutional rights back," Brinkman told The Enquirer. "The law-abiding citizens are under attack every day."

Current law requires anyone older than 21 to complete an 8-hour training course, apply for a license at their local sheriff's office and pass a background check. The bill would eliminate those requirements. 

The proposal would also eliminate a requirement that people carrying concealed weapons inform police that they have guns when stopped. The bill would expunge any prior convictions for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. 

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More:Matt Bevin signs bill letting people carry concealed guns without a permit

The Fraternal Order of Police opposes the proposed changes, arguing that background checks and training are key to safety. Anti-gun violence groups, such as Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America, have fought efforts to eliminate permitless carry across the nation.

"Weakening our gun laws is not the direction to go," said Michele Mueller, who leads the Cincinnati group of Moms Demand Action. She cited a recent Baldwin Wallace University poll that showed residents support some restrictions on guns. "Let’s listen to the people."

Brinkman has tried to eliminate permits for concealed carry weapons repeatedly to little success. But he hopes momentum from states such as Kentucky will help this time around. Sixteen states either already allow or recently passed laws to allow permitless concealed carry. Most limit the option to residents only.

Ohio's GOP-controlled Legislature has passed several pieces of legislation in recent years to expand access to guns.

Brinkman said he's confident Gov. Mike DeWine would sign the bill, which has support from 29 GOP lawmakers in the Ohio House. 

A DeWine spokesman said the governor supports protecting Ohioans' Second Amendment rights: "We are reviewing the recently introduced proposal and look forward to following its movement through the legislative process."

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