Ohio Bill Would Reduce Penalty for Carrying Gun on College Campuses

The Ohio Senate this week could pass a bill that would reduce the penalty from a felony to a misdemeanor for carrying a gun on a college campus, reports the Columbus Dispatch .

House Bill 48, which passed the Republican-controlled House a year ago, 68-29, also would allow universities to adopt policies permitting people to carry concealed handguns on campus.

The bill was already scheduled for a possible Senate committee vote on Wednesday morning, prior to the attack at Ohio State on Monday. It is set for two hearings this week, and the full Senate could take up the bill as early as Wednesday afternoon, if leaders so choose.

The gun bill also would allow concealed-carry licensees to carry guns inside day-care centers and certain public areas of airports and police stations.

While the bill was under debate in the House, the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association questioned the need for the changes, and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police opposed the bill.