In another November 24 press release, Ohio Representative Jarrod Martin announced his support for the Restaurant Concealed Firearm Carry Bill, HB 203.
The release states that both Representative Jarrod Martin (R-Beavercreek) and Representative Danny R. Bubp (R- West Union) gave sponsor testimony in support of House Bill 203 to the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee.
The bill would allow Ohioans who possess their concealed carry permit the ability to go into a restaurant who has its liquor license, so long as the person carrying the weapon is not consuming alcohol.
Representative Martin illustrated in his testimony the need for the bill by referring to a case in Tennessee this past April. A man was brutally gunned down in front of his wife who had her concealed permit but was unable to bring her gun into the establishment because Tennessee state law prohibits it.
“House Bill 203 gives responsible citizens a choice that Mrs. Goeser did not have.” Martin said in his testimony. “It gives them the peace of mind in knowing that they possess a deterrent force and it allows our citizens the opportunity to protect themselves and potentially prevent cases of violence like what was encountered that night in Tennessee.”
Currently, 42 other states including all those that border Ohio allow their citizens to carry in a restaurant that has a liquor license.
“This is simply a common sense, necessary fix to Ohio’s concealed carry laws,” Martin said. “When it comes to having a responsible armed citizen or an armed criminal next to me in a restaurant where alcohol is permitted to be served, I know which one I would feel safer standing next to.”