Prostitution is illegal in Ohio except, it seems, when the Ohio House of Representatives sells itself to the handgun lobby.

In a largely partisan 59-28 vote last week, the Republican-run House sent Ohio's Senate a bill to soften the state's concealed-carry law. Five House Democrats voted for the bill; no Republicans voted against it.

The Senate is likely to ditto the bill after its summer break and send it to Republican Gov. John Kasich to sign.

Fueled by campaign donations and political threats, the gun lobby keeps pushing the boundaries. And supposedly responsible Ohio officeholders, like the British at Munich, keep caving.

House Bill 495, sponsored by Republican Terry Johnson, of the Portsmouth area, would soften the definition of "unloaded" for firearms transported in a motor vehicle.

Under current law, those without a concealed-carry permit may not transport loaded firearms in vehicles. That would continue. But the Johnson bill would instead allow them to transport loaded magazines, as long as they aren't inserted into firearms. That's comforting, especially to the families of peace officers.

Likewise reassuring: Holders of concealed-carry permits will no longer have to provide a new certificate of competency when seeking to renew their permits.

About our editorials

Plain Dealer editorials express the view of The Plain Dealer's editorial board -- the publisher, editor and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the newspaper.

• Talk about the topic of this editorial in the comments below.

• Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

• Email general questions or comments about the editorial board to Elizabeth Sullivan, editor of the editorial page.

As to gifts to the gun lobby, Ohio's slope grows more slippery with every General Assembly session. This could have been predicted -- and was -- when then-Gov. Bob Taft foolishly signed a bill lifting Ohio's concealed-carry ban in January 2004. And a year ago June 30, Kasich, also foolishly, signed a bill allowing holders of concealed-carry permits to take their firearms into bars.

Before another legislative session passes, the one place Ohioans probably won't be allowed to carry concealed firearms -- permit or not -- may be the Statehouse.

A note from Elizabeth Sullivan: A previous version of this editorial incorrectly described current law and the changes this bill would bring. We thank those commenters who quickly pointed out the errors, allowing us to identify and fix them.