Bill would allow guns on campus, in church

Lawmaker’s proposal would expand on new law.

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By Hannah C. Bealer, Staff Writer 10:07 PM Wednesday, June 22, 2011

A local lawmaker wants to allow Ohio gun owners to carry guns in colleges, churches, day care centers and government buildings.

The bill would also eliminate the requirement for gun owners to carry their permit along with a firearm.

This legislation, if passed, would expand on the bill that passed last week allowing guns in bars and restaurants serving alcohol as long as the gun owner isn’t drinking.

State Rep. John Adams, R-Sidney, is proposing House Bill 256 for the third time and believes it could pass this session with the House back in Republican control. Previously, the bill never passed a committee vote.

Adams, the bill’s only sponsor for the bill, said gun training would still be required. Carrying a permit would not. Only Alaska, Arizona, Vermont and Wyoming allow this.

“Why are they any different than the law-abiding citizens in Ohio?” Adams said. “We’ve received positive feedback from people who endorse the Second Amendment. But we get the reverse of that from people who just don’t understand it.”

Rep. Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton, call the bill “ridiculous and irresponsible.”

“We already have folks who shoot kids for going on their property,” he said. “Why make it easier?”

As for whether the new bill supports Second Amendment rights, Luckie said, “at the beginning of the Constitution, they allow slavery. It doesn’t mean it’s right.”

Andrew Arulanandam, a National Rifle Association spokesman, says the NRA thinks the bill is reasonable.

“Unfortunately, crime does happen outside of the home. Headlines remind us of that almost daily,” he said. “There are crimes in churches and other venues. We think it’s good for people to have a firearm to defend themselves.”

He said criminals already disregard gun laws and when firearms are banned, it tells criminals where to commit a crime.

“Sometimes the only thing that can stop a bad person with a gun is a good person with a gun,” Arulanandam said.

Mark Deters, a criminal defense attorney from the Dayton area, supports the bill. Deters is also involved with the Church Security Alliance.

Deters said many Dayton area congregations have security teams.

As a former officer in Ottawa Hills, Deters said crime happens in churches and other venues all the time, and thinks responsible citizens should be permitted to carry firearms into the locations that the bill specifies.

“Cops can’t be everywhere,” he said.

Under current law, failing to carry a gun permit results in a misdemeanor. Deters thinks it should stay that way, and, “If you’re going to carry a gun, you should have a permit.”

Sinclair Community College officials don’t necessarily support the bill.

“In order to provide a safe learning environment for our students, faculty and staff, we have prohibited the carrying of firearms at Sinclair Community College except by law enforcement personnel,” Sinclair police Chief Chuck Gift said.

“While we would not support measures bringing firearms onto college campuses, as a public institution, we will abide by the laws, rules, and regulations set forth by the state of Ohio,” he said.

University of Dayton officials said they wouldn’t alter their ban on firearms. As a private institution, the state law would not impact the university.

Private business owners would not be affected, either. They would still be allowed to post signs banning firearms.

Shirley Nelson, owner of Rising Starz Childcare, Inc., a child-care center with two campuses in the Dayton area, said she would take advantage of her right to continue to ban firearms.

“First of all, it’s crazy,” Nelson said about the bill. “Second of all, we already have a policy that there are no weapons allowed on the grounds. We would still instill that. We’re dealing with children.”

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