Ohio Gun Law Debate

Major Ohio sports facilities don’t plan to allow fans to bring concealed weapons to the game, even if state lawmakers vote to make it legal.

House and Senate reps have passed separate bills that would allow anyone with a concealed weapon permit to bring a gun into businesses that serve alcohol, including the Cincinnati Reds’ Great American Ballpark and Cleveland Browns Stadium, providing the arms-bearer hasn’t been drinking beforehand or at the facility. Breaking that law would be a felony.

But reps for the privately owned or leased facilities, such as Ohio State University’s 20,000-capacity Schottenstein Center and 20,500-capacity Nationwide Arena, say they expect to stick with an existing law that says those venues may ban guns as a safety precaution.
“We don’t think it’s going to change anything that we do,” said Cleveland Indians spokesman Bob DiBiaso.

Proponents of the new law say they should be allowed to carry firearms into restaurants, bars or clubs instead of leaving them in cars where thieves could get a hold of them.

Opponents say that guns, potentially rowdy sports fans and alcohol are a dangerous combination.

A spokesman said Gov. John Kasich wants to review details of the legislation before making a decision.