Information below:1.Signs Prohibiting Weapons Need to be Posted
2.Your Rights to be Weapon Free
3.Workplace No Weapons Policy
4.Ohio Legislators Votes on CCW
5.Links on this page:
WEAPON FREE ZONE signs
Ohio Hospital Association policy on CCW
Kansas City resolution example on encouraging CCW signs
Ohio Attorney General page on CCW
SIGNS NEED TO BE POSTED
NEW OHIO LAW April 8, 2004
HB 12 Carrying Concealed Weapons (CCW)
Governor Taft and the Ohio State Legislature have passed and signed a bill in the state of Ohio to give licenses to gun owners to carry loaded concealed guns in public starting April 8th.
Businesses, organizations and service providers need to reconsider their employee and public policies regarding loaded weapons on their property. Prior to the passage of this law many Ohio employer policies prohibited weapons. While prior policy may be sufficient, we recommend making sure your policy is covering your decisions. There are examples and links from our website on employee policy and we are happy to give you additional professional consultant contact information on request.
Prohibited places under the law: A school safety zone, colleges, day-care facilities, aircraft, law enforcement buildings, any government owned or leased property and buildings, any room or open air arena dispensing liquor and places prohibited by Federal law. Signs are required to be posted and wording is designated in the law. Carrying in places of worship is prohibited.
All other places: REGARDLESS OF EMPLOYEE POLICY,
SIGNS PROHIBITING WEAPONS NEED TO BE POSTED
IF YOU DO NOT WANT CONCEALED CARRY LICENSE HOLDERS TO CARRY LOADED WEAPONS IN AND ON YOUR PROPERTY.
Without a posted sign customers, clients, and patients that have a license to carry a concealed weapon will legally be able to do so in your building and parking lot and on your land.
=======================================
YOUR RIGHTS TO BE WEAPON FREE
Legislators may be able to legalize permits to carry concealed weapons. You have the right to determine your safety risks.
If you see someone with a gun, continue to assume their activity is suspicious. There is no way for you to determine if they are 'law abiding' or those with criminal intent. Call law enforcement to investigate and leave the area.
Keep Your Rights
You have the right to prohibit the carrying of weapons on your property.
Businesses have the right to prohibit employees, clients, patients and customers on their property, in their buildings and parking lots from carrying weapons.
Take Action
1. Speak up and tell anyone hired or visiting your property weapons are prohibited.
2. Encourage your employer to make your workplace weapon free.
3. Ask businesses and entertainment facilities to make their businesses weapon free.
4. Educate your children. They may see adults carrying guns and assume it is acceptable behavior for them as well.
5. Ask anyone transporting your children if anyone in the vehicle will be carrying a gun.
6. Inform your children's school you do not want your children transported or chaperoned by anyone carrying a gun. Educate your school that the law allows CCW permit holders to drive thru their parking lots while carrying weapons.
7. Offer information on signage for weapon free zones (download here at www.ohioceasefire.org)
8. Refuse to accept the culture of fear.
9. Refuse to accept weapons in your space.
================
WORKPLACE POLICY......
By Stephanie E. Trudeau, Esq.
It used to be that employers thought they didn't need a handgun policy in their workplace. Who would bring a gun to work? But think again: Ohio's new concealed weapons law means employers should seriously consider whether to put a handgun policy in place.
Without a rule, employers should not be surprised if employees start bringing guns to work. Prohibiting concealed weapons can be especially important if an employer conducts business in any of the places where it is still illegal to carry a gun, even under the new law.
When it takes effect April 8, 2004, the new law gives law-abiding citizens and mentally competent Ohioans, 21 and older, the right to carry concealed handguns.
And that will mean guns in workplaces too unless employers explicitly and directly tell employees "no guns."
Employers also can prohibit guns in vehicles if that vehicle will be parked on the business' property. The same prohibition applies to guns in company-owned or leased cars.
The law also forbids weapons in any business in a state-owned building or property. An employer who leases a state-owned building or property better make sure that no employee brings a gun. Guns are also prohibited in airport passenger terminals, public buildings where liquor is served, university and college campuses, places of worship, child and family daycare centers, among other places and anywhere federal or state law already says guns are off limits.
A "No Guns at Work" Policy
But employers need to make their no guns policy explicit. They can avoid legal headaches and potential catastrophe by simply including a well-crafted no weapons policy in their employee handbooks. Here are some pointers on establishing a comprehensive weapons policy:
o Clearly state that employees are not allowed to carry any weapons (i.e., guns, handguns, firearms) on company premises, including parking lots and company cars.
o Spell out actions that will be taken should an employee bring a weapon to the workplace (i.e., immediate termination).
o Make sure all employees are aware of the policy by placing it in the employee handbook.
Other items to consider:
o Outline procedures for reporting incidents of workplace harassment, intimidation or violence against an employee or company property. Especially now, these can dangerously escalate.
o Be sure you have a thorough policy for screening new hires.
o Develop a list of warning signs about potentially violent employees.
o Include a list of resources for employees on how to deal with stress.
The new law does provide legal immunity to private employers who are sued for injury, death or loss of personal property related to a concealed gun on their premises. But why take any risk? With a thoughtfully developed policy, widely disseminated and clearly enforced, you can keep your workplace safe and productive.
# # #
Stephanie E. Trudeau, Esq. is a partner practicing employment and labor law in the Cleveland office of Ulmer & Berne LLP.
=================================================
HOW THEY VOTED
OHIO SENATE ROLL CALL ON HB12
25 Ohio Senators and 70 Ohio Representatives voted to permit carrying concealed weapons. The Governor promptly signed the bill into law.
Republicans for (20): Amstutz, Armbruster, Austria, Blessing, Carey, Carnes, Coughlin, Randy Gardner, Robert Gardner, Harris, Hottinger, Jacobson, Jordan, Mumper, Nein, Schuler, Schuring, Stivers, Wachtmann & White
Democrats for (5): Dann, DiDonato, Fedor, Hagan & Zurz
Republicans against (2): Goodman & Spada
Democrats against (6): Brady, Fingerhut, Mallory, Miller, Prentiss & Roberts
House CCW Roll Call:
Republicans for (57): Aslanides, Blasdel, Buehrer, Callender, Calvert, Carmichael, Cates, Clancy, Collier, Core, Daniels, DeWine, C. Evans, Faber, Fessler, Flowers, Gibbs, Gilb, Grendell, Hagan, Hollister, Hoops, Hughes, Husted, Jolivette, Kearns, Latta, Martin, McGregor, Niehaus, Oelslager, Olman, T. Patton, Peterson, Raga, Raussen, Reidelbach, Reinhard, Schaffer, Schlichter, Schmidt, Schneider, Seitz, Setzer, G. Smith, J. Stewart, Taylor, Trakas, Wagner, Walcher, Webster, White, Widener, Willamowski, Williams, Wolpert & Householder
Democrats for (13): Allen, Book, Carano, Cirelli, Distel, Domenick, Hartnett, Harwood, Redfern, Seaver, Sferra, D. Stewart & Wilson
Republicans against (4): Brinkman, Kilbane, Widowfield & Young
Democrats against (23): Barrett, Beatty, Brown, Chandler, DeBose, DeGeeter, Driehaus, Jerse, Key, Koziura, Mason, Miller, Otterman, S. Patton, Perry, Price, Skindell, S. Smith, Strahorn, Sykes, Ujvagi, Woodard & Yates
Not voting (2): Boccieri & D. Evans
