In the wake of Monday’s attack at Ohio State University, state lawmakers plan to continue to move ahead with legislation to loosen rules for carrying concealed handguns on campus.
The Ohio Senate may vote as soon as Wednesday on House Bill 48, which would allow colleges and universities in the state to decide whether to allow concealed handguns on school property. Colleges and universities would be given legal immunity in cases involving people carrying concealed firearms on campus, unless school officials acted maliciously.
The legislation would also reduce the penalty for carrying an unauthorized concealed handgun on campus from a felony to a minor misdemeanor if the offender produces a conceal-carry permit within 10 days. In addition, the measure would allow concealed handguns in day-care centers and public areas inside police stations and airports.
An Ohio Senate committee is set to vote Wednesday on the measure, which passed the Ohio House last year. An Ohio Senate Republicans spokesman said Monday afternoon that there were no plans to change that schedule because of the Ohio State attack, in which a man was shot and killed by police after running over a number of students with his car and attacking bystanders with a knife.
If lawmakers don’t pass the bill by the end of December, it will die and must be re-introduced next year.
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