Uecker supports Second Amendment rights in Senate Vote
State Senator Joe Uecker (R–Clermont County) has announced Senate passage of House Bill 234.
The bill advances several initiatives to modernize Ohio’s concealed carry laws by strengthening background checks and other accountability measures while also improving access to permits for law abiding Ohioans.
“One of the beautiful things about America is that we are a nation founded on the rights of people, not the rights of our government,” said Uecker.
“In the Statehouse, we take those rights very seriously and our work today makes it easier for law abiding citizens to exercise their right to bear arms while putting in real safeguards to keep people safe in Ohio.”
Senator Uecker serves as the Senate Co-Chairman of the bicameral Sportsman's Caucus in the Statehouse.
Another Uecker provision exempts applicants who have successfully completed the Ohio Peace Officer Training from the competency certification requirement when applying for a permit.
The bill offers a six-month grace period for active duty military members to renew their Concealed Handgun License after it has expired.
“Our nation has the greatest military on the face of the earth and, as the father of several active duty members of our armed forces, I couldn’t be more proud of the training they undergo and the skills they develop while in our nation’s service,” added Uecker. “Ohio law should recognize these things and we should work to make sure our military members are able to be in Ohio comfortably and safely.”
The legislation strengthens safeguards by requiring a sheriff must perform a background check using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) so law enforcement can be confident in an applicant’s qualifications before issuing a permit.
House Bill 234 also brings Ohio standards for disqualification in line with federal law, for instance, by clarifying that a person is disallowed from obtaining a permit if they have renounced their United States citizenship or have been convicted of a domestic violence offense.
House Bill 234 will now return to the Ohio House of Representatives for a concurrence vote before being presented to the Governor for his consideration.
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Senator Uecker represents the 14th District in the Ohio Senate, which encompasses all of Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Scioto counties as well as a portion of Lawrence County. He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on State Government Oversight and Reform and as the Senate Co-Chairman of the Bicameral Sportsman's Caucus. Learn more at www.OhioSenate.gov/Uecker.