July 4, 2017
I wish I could say I’m emailing you only to say Happy Independence Day!
The fact is, I hate to email you on a day like today when most people are celebrating Independence Day with their family and friends.
But defending freedom and the human right to defend one’s life and family is the exact reason why I’m emailing you right now.
You see, tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1:00pm is the last scheduled House Federalism Committee meeting before the legislature goes on Summer Break, and our last chance to move Constitutional Carry out of the Federalism Committee!
But I have some alarming news.
Members of the House Federalism Committee are dragging their heels, insisting that Constitutional Carry should come with “restrictions.”
You see, in the states all across America that have already passed Constitutional Carry, anyone who is not prohibited by federal firearms ownership standards can Constitutional Carry.
In fact, those who aren’t prohibited are able to buy and sell firearms freely.
But the anti-gunners are pouring the pressure on the Federalism Committee members, insisting that the only people who can Constitutional Carry should be those who meet the more restrictive Ohio Concealed Handgun License Requirements instead of the federal prohibited persons standard!
%%FIRST%%, what this means for everyday Ohioans is that if you’ve ever even been convicted of a misdemeanor drug charge like smoking pot when you were a teenager, Constitutional Carry wouldn’t be “allowed” for you.
Mind you, you would still be able to PURCHASE firearms, you just wouldn’t be able to carry them to protect yourself or your family!
In other words, someone who wanted to commit a crime of violence with a firearm could still go out and legally purchase one, they just wouldn’t be able to carry it when they commit the crime.
If that sounds ridiculous to you, you aren’t alone.
But members of the House Federalism Committee are digging in, blocking H.B. 201 from advancing without major anti-gun concessions.
The federal prohibited persons standard has worked well in the states that have already passed Constitutional Carry.
Under the existing Federal prohibited persons standard, there are already lots of people prohibited from carrying firearms:
– People adjudicated mentally ill.
– People committed to a mental institution.
– People charged with a felony with a sentence possibility of more than a year
– People charged with an unclassified felony under Ohio law
– People charged with a 1st degree felony under Ohio law
– People charged with a 2nd degree felony under Ohio law
– People convicted of misdemeanor criminal domestic violence
– People under a domestic violence protection order
As you can see, federal law already prohibits a lot of folks from carrying firearms.
And as the other twelve states that have passed Constitutional Carry have already proved, that standard is working well!
That’s why I’m asking you to send an email right now to the entire House Federalism and Interstate Relations Committee!
To send a pre-written email, click here.
If that doesn’t work, please copy and paste the list of email addresses into your own email service, then copy the message below and put it in the body of your email!
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Dear Members of the House Federalism and Interstate Relations Committee,
I support Constitutional Carry for the state of Ohio. I support H.B. 201 as written by Representative Hood.
Ohio Gun Owners informs me that select members of the Federalism Committee are dragging their heels, refusing to pass H.B. 201 out of committee unless the bill is changed.
Restoring Constitutional Carry using the Federal Prohibited Persons standard has worked out extremely well for the states that have already passed Constitutional Carry.
Insisting that Constitutional Carry be pegged to the Ohio Concealed Handgun License Requirements is a solution in search of a problem, as these people would still be able to purchase a firearm under federal law anyway!
That’s why I’m writing to INSIST that you pass H.B. 201 out of committee as written, and leave the current Concealed Handgun License requirements in place for those who still want one for purposes of reciprocity with other states.
I’ll be watching the results of the Federalism Committee meeting on Wednesday with scrutiny.
Respectfully and firmly,
Chris Dorr
Executive Director
Ohio Gun Owners
P.S. Happy Independence Day from Ohio Gun Owners! I wish I could leave it at that, but time is of the essence.
Tomorrow is our last chance for weeks to come to get H.B. 201 out of the Federalism Committee!
That’s why I hope you’ll read the email above and then take action!
Please click here to send this one email to the entire list of Federalism Committee members, telling them to pass H.B. 201 out of committee as written!
Thank you for your support in the fight to defend our Second Amendment Rights!