03/08/06

Media access to permit holders' names only link to public in Ohio


By JOHN McCARTHY
Associated Press Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Sponsors of changes intended for Ohio's concealed weapons law have dropped -- for now -- their demand that journalists lose access to lists of permit holders.

But backers of the changes vowed to keep up their push to seal the lists, and should they succeed, the real losers would be the public, a lobbyist who represents newspapers says.

Proponents of the changes wanted to require journalists to present names to a county sheriff to find out whether those people have permits, rather than simply ask for a list of permit holders. Now the bill's backers say they will try to end access to the lists through another bill.

Media access to lists is the only way anyone can know who has a permit, said Frank Deaner, lobbyist for the Ohio Newspaper Association.

"We're still disappointed that public access was never given," Deaner said Tuesday.

The full House was expected to vote on the revised bill on Wednesday, one day after the Criminal Justice Committee recommended it for passage. The committee vote was along party lines, with Democratic Rep. Kenny Yuko of suburban Cleveland joining majority Republicans in support.

Ohio sheriffs issued 22,487 permits in 2005, down from 45,497 issued in 2004 after the law took effect in April 2004, making Ohio the 45th state to allow residents to carry hidden guns.

Gun advocates say the availability of names presents a safety risk to permit holders, while those who support the media exemption say there is no proof of harm resulting from publishing the names.

Gov. Bob Taft would have vetoed the bill if it blocked journalists' access to the lists, spokesman Mark Rickel said.

Proposed revisions to the 2004 law permitting concealed weapons include allowing permit holders to keep guns hidden in their cars -- another deal-breaker for Taft -- and prohibiting cities and villages from having weapons bans more stringent than state or federal law.

That provision drew sharp disapproval from the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence.

"They're going to take all rights from all cities," said Toby Hoover, the group's executive director.

However, the prohibition will provide assurances for permit holders who travel from one community to another, said John Hohenwarter, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association.

"You can't have a situation where you drive across the state and break 50 laws. Ohio is overdue for this," Hohenwarter said.

The protection of journalists' access to the lists that had been included in the weapons bill will be inserted instead in a public records bill, said Rep. Jim Aslanides, a Coshocton Republican who is sponsoring the hidden weapons legislation.

The new version of Aslanides' bill also increases the penalty for not telling a police officer approaching a vehicle that the driver is a permit holder. Under current law, a gun must be kept in plain sight inside a car or locked up and separated from ammunition.

However, the bill allows permit holders inside vehicles to carry hidden guns. Proponents say an unloaded or locked-up gun does them no good if they are attacked in their cars.

State Highway Patrol Lt. Shawn Davis, who is following the bill for his agency, said he had not seen a copy of the new version, but based on testimony he heard Tuesday, the patrol would still be opposed.

"We still have some concerns regarding the 'plain sight,'" Davis said. "We are definitely keeping an open door and an open mind in this."

Taft would veto the bill if it contains the plain-sight provision as proposed, Rickel said.

House Speaker Jon Husted, a suburban Dayton Republican, said some change must be made.

"The present language is unacceptable because it's vague and open to too much interpretation about what plain sight means," Husted said.