Sen. Johnson highlights decrease in gun-related crime following constitutional carry law

COLUMBUS – State Senator Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) today applauded the release of a report detailing a decrease in gun crime following the enactment of his constitutional carry legislation, Senate Bill 215.

Senate Bill 215, which allows qualifying adults to carry a concealed handgun without obtaining a concealed handgun license, went into effect June 13th, 2022. Six of Ohio’s eight largest cities reported less gun crime when compared to the year prior to the bill’s enactment, according to data collected through the collaboration of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and Bowling Green State University.

“This report demonstrates that when Ohioans’ Second Amendment rights are protected, we are all safer,” said Johnson. “I am proud of my record in the legislature defending the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens to lawfully carry firearms for the protection of loved ones and self against violent criminals.”

Throughout his time in the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate, Senator Johnson has introduced and passed numerous bills expanding and clarifying the firearm rights of Ohioans. In addition to constitutional carry, Senator Johnson has introduced legislation repealing the duty to retreat (amended into Senate Bill 175 and passed December 2020), shifting the burden of proof in self-defense cases to the state (House Bill 228, passed December 2018), and more.

This General Assembly, Senator Johnson has championed Senate Bill 148, which would protect firearm owners and retailers from financial discrimination by prohibiting financial institutions from classifying firearm purchases differently from other sales.