BELLEVUE, WA – The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today congratulated the Ohio House of Representatives for their courageous 71-21 vote to override the veto of concealed carry reform legislation by Gov. Bob Taft.

CCRKBA Executive Director Joe Waldron immediately urged Buckeye State gun owners to start calling their state senators to let them know the time has come to reform the state’s complicated carry statute.

“Ohioans have been living with a concealed carry law that has not made much sense since it took effect,” Waldron said, “but it was a step in the right direction. The current legislation is another big leap because it reforms the original law in several key areas. The House has taken a responsible course, and now it is up to the State Senate to be just as sensible and override this veto.

“Unfortunately, outgoing Gov. Bob Taft could not resist taking one more slap at gun owners in his state before he leaves office,” he added. “Taft evidently does not understand that it is Republicans like him, rather than leaders like Speaker Jon Husted, Assistant Majority Leader Kevin DeWine and Rep. Jim Aslanides, who are largely responsible for costing the party so dearly in last month’s elections across the country. Husted, DeWine and Aslanides have set an example by taking quick action within hours of Taft’s ill-advised and spiteful veto. Let’s hope the Senate can follow their example quickly.

“Senate President Bill Harris has said he is ‘still weighing options’ on how to proceed with an override vote next week,” Waldron observed. “What is there to consider? There is no mystery at all about doing the right thing here. Ohio gun owners need to let Harris and his Senate colleagues know how they feel, and tell them to also vote for override. It’s the common sense thing to do, and it needs to be done now.”