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Thursday, September 29, 2011

Licensed gun carriers in Ohio no longer have to eat or drink without their piece

Ohio is following other states in allowing guns to be carried into more establishments, after state lawmakers struggled with the notion for years. Ohioans will be able to carry their guns into liquor stores, carry-outs, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, shopping malls and museums after recent revisions to the state's gun laws go into effect.

Janice Morse of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that parts of the law remove requirements forcing permit holders to keep guns in a holster, a locked case or unlocked in plain sight while driving, and includes a process allowing past violators of those laws to have their records wiped clean. However, under the new law, licensed concealed-weapon holders are banned from drinking alcohol while carrying their weapon, and they have to keep their guns out of businesses explicitly banning weapons. Lawmakers are counting on licensed carriers to follow the law, Morse reports, though most business owners, residents and weapon carriers don't expect there to be any problems with the new law, so long as gun carriers don't get drunk.

State Sen. Bill Seitz, who supported changing the law, told Morse the law was not going to usher in an era of "wild, Wild West violence." He said gun-carriers didn't like the idea of leaving their guns in the car when entering a business, fearing "real criminals" could possibly steal them. And if someone breaks these laws, they could face stiff penalties: Drinking while carrying is a third-degree felony which could land the violator in prison for up to five years and a $10,000 fine. It's also a felony to carry a gun in a business that prohibits it, Morse reports.

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