Under a bill in the legislature, elected officials in Ohio could take hidden guns into government facilities where other people are banned from carrying weapons.

Rep. Nino Vitale said House Bill 310, which he introduced this week, is intended as a self-defense measure for elected officials.

"The political climate is unfortunately extremely extreme," the Urbana Republican said. "There are a lot of places in government where we're simply not protected."

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Vitale cited the shooting last month at a congressional baseball practice in Virginia as an example of the heightened threats against lawmakers. Vitale said he has been threatened, called names and followed from the Statehouse.

Vitale, a concealed-carry trainer, said the measure would apply only to elected officials who have a concealed-carry permit.

He said his legislation might contribute to civil discourse.

"If someone knows someone can defend themselves, they might keep their rhetoric at an acceptable level," Vitale said.

But even some gun-rights advocates argue that the legislation would create a special class of concealed-carry permit holders by allowing elected state and local officials to carry guns on government property while other citizens are prohibited from doing so.

Jim Irvine, executive director of the Buckeye Firearms Association, questioned what makes lawmakers more deserving of expanded concealed-carry rights. His organization is reviewing the legislation before taking a formal position.

Irvine said the legislature should instead take a look at revising aspects of the concealed-carry law.

"We have enough license holders and enough data to fix the law," Irvine said.

Vitale said he's heard rumblings about a broader bill allowing all permit holders to carry weapons on government property, a measure he would support. His bill, though, is narrowly focused on elected officials' right to carry.

"I think there's going to be contentiousness from the gun lobby and gun owners in every possible way," said Paul Beck, a political-science professor at Ohio State University.

The legislation has the potential to increase the disconnect between citizens and lawmakers, Beck said.

Others called into question the impact the law would have on citizen engagement with government.

"If someone is armed, I may think twice about having a disagreement with them," said Jennifer Thorne, executive director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence. "If we're introducing deadly weapons into the situation, this is a problem."

Thorne said it's often intimidating enough for citizens to testify in committee hearings and meet with elected officials without the presence of guns. Her organization opposes the legislation.

Vitale pushed back on this, saying the presence of guns would be known only if a life-threatening situation arose.

House members have blitzed the chamber with at least three other bills that would ease Ohio's gun laws.

House Bill 233 would allow permit holders carrying a concealed gun into some gun-free zones to avoid a conviction. Of the four, it appears to have the greatest chance of becoming law.

House Bill 142 would remove the requirement for permit holders to notify police of their weapon when pulled over. House Bill 201 would remove the requirement to have a permit in order to carry a concealed weapon. Neither is expected to pass.

akeiper@dispatch.com

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