COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers are considering the question -- should someone be allowed to carry a concealed weapon in certain buildings that have a courtroom?
House Bill 272 would affect mostly smaller municipalities that have multi-use buildings. For example, they may house city council chambers and city offices as well as a magistrate court.
A gun owner could bring a concealed weapon into those buildings except when court is in session.
Bill co-sponsor, Republican Representative Adam Mathews, says it protects citizens' Second Amendment rights. He also says the bill does not in any way affect a courthouse that performs only as a courthouse.
"This is for multi-use buildings in our smaller municipalities that are good stewards of taxpayer dollars, that instead of having multiple buildings for electric, for tax, for city council and the court," Mathews said. "When court is not in session, because we know how important that is to have safe, secure judicial proceedings, we're allowed to recognize our concealed carry rights and our Constitutional rights when court is not in session."
"The problem with that is the judges are still in the building, the magistrates, the court employees, they're doing their jobs," Rob Pierson with Moms Demand Action for Common Sense Gun Laws said. "Just because court's not in session doesn't mean that those individuals are not in the building."
Lebano Mayor Mark Messer testified before the House Government Oversight Committee Tuesday in favor of the bill.
"Primarily it's because it's our Second Amendment right, and I don't feel it's necessary to have to disarm yourself to talk to your local elected representatives," Messer said.
Michelle Heym, also with Moms Demand Action, calls the bill an "anti-public safety bill."
"Permitless carry is no background check, no license and no permit that requires those specific safeguards," Heym said. "There's no safeguards."
Tuesday's hearing was the second hearing on the proposed bill.