Ohio House overrides Taft gun-bill veto

The Ohio House easily overrode Gov. Bob Taft's veto of the concealed-carry bill today, 71 to 21. The House needed 60 votes to override.

A total of 20 votes are needed for the Senate to override. The Senate reconvenes on Tuesday.

State Reps. Steve Driehaus, D-Price Hill, and Tyrone K. Yates, D-Evanston/East Walnut Hills, were among the 21 Democrats supporting Taft's veto. Rep. Catherine Barrett, D-College Hill, was among seven legislators not present for the vote.

This marks the first time the House has voted to override a Taft veto. The governor has vetoed just two other bills in his eight years in office.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. James Aslanides, a Republican from Coshocton, said his legislation is as grassroots as legislation comes and has the support of law enforcement.

But Rep. Dan Stewart, a Columbus Democrat who supported the existing law on concealed-carry weapons, said, "It went beyond when it dealt with city rules. It went too far when it dealt with city rights...I support the governor's veto of this bill."

Friday's news article can be found here