Today was a Second Amendment victory for law-abiding gun owners as Governor John Kasich signed into law Sub. Senate Bill 199 which will go into effect after 90 days. This important self-defense law is another step forward in protecting the Second Amendment rights of active duty members, employees and law-abiding Ohioans across The Buckeye State.

Sponsored by state Senator Joe Uecker (R-14), Sub. SB 199 will exempt active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces from the concealed carry permit license requirements. The bill will make several important changes in the Concealed Handgun Law regarding a person who is an active duty member of the U.S. armed forces and is carrying a valid military identification card and a certificate issued by the person's applicable service branch indicating that the person has successfully completed small arms qualification (qualifying member of the military).

Sub. SB 199 will also allow an employee to store a firearm in his or her locked vehicle without fear of employer retribution. Throughout the country, many employers have adopted “No Firearms” policies that extend beyond the physical workplace to include employee parking lots – areas often accessible to the general public and not secure. These misguided policies leave employees to choose between protecting themselves during their commutes and be subject to termination by their employers. The fundamental right to self-defense should not stop simply because employees park their cars in publicly accessible parking lots owned by their employers. This bill will correct that problem by prohibiting employers from establishing, maintaining or enforcing such policies.

The amended language from Sub. HB 48, sponsored by state Representative Ron Maag (R-62), will also enhance law-abiding citizens’ right to self-defense by expanding the list of places where citizens can legally carry concealed.

Your NRA-ILA would like to thank the Ohio General Assembly and Governor Kasich for the enactment of this important legislation.