Source
r/CCW•
hydraghost

Question About Signage in Ohio

Legal

I live in Ohio and have had my CHL for almost 2 years now. One thing I have always been unclear on is the definition of signage. I don't ever leave my house without my carry and always stay mindful of the no gun graphic signs but I've heard mixed interpretations of what this law means.
Does signage mean just the no gun with circle sign or does this mean explicitly the statement as shown below "Unless otherwise authorized by law, pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code, no person shall knowingly possess, have under the person's control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance onto these premises."

According to Ohio's CCW laws, signage does carry the weight of law and some local stores have just a standalone no gun with the red circle sticker in the window, but I have never seen the actual written statement. Is the no gun sticker enough to enforce the weight of law?

Sec. 2923.1212. Signage Prohibiting Concealed Handguns(A)Each person, board, or entity that owns or controls any place or premises identified in division (B) of section 2923.126 of the Revised Code as a place into which a valid license does not authorize the licensee to carry a concealed handgun, or a designee of such a person, board, or entity , shall post in the one or more conspicuous locations in the premises a sign that contains a statement in substantially the following form: "Unless otherwise authorized by law, pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code, no person shall knowingly possess, have under the person's control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance onto these premises."

Posted Jul 29, 2019, 8:09 PM UTC

716
DickJagamoOH•

Oh wow, I though all signs carried the weight of law in Ohio.

But I guess "they" might be alright with letting us believe that lol

2
TheFistdn•

You are correct. If the sign doesn't say basically verbatim, "Unless otherwise authorized by law, pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code, no person shall knowingly possess, have under the person's control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance onto these premises." it doesn't carry weight of law. It doesn't mean that you won't get asked to leave though. Usually the legit signs state the ORC number as well.

1
hitemlowKY | Glock 26 Gen 5•

It also has to be posted at every entrance.

2
lordhamster1977XDM-10 or Glock 29SF IWB•

No, it doesn't. it has to be posted "conspicuously." That said, if you don't see the sign because you entered via an unposted entrance, then you are presumably not "knowingly" carrying against the signage.

1
Teezle419•

I'd like this to be true! Do you have a source to back it up, my friend?

1
nachobox•

Um it's above, in the OP. The part of the law that says the sign must contain

a statement in substantially the following form: Unless otherwise authorized by law, pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code, no person shall knowingly possess, have under the person's control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance onto these premises.

So just a "no guns" or a picture with the red circle and cross through is not sufficient.

1
[deleted]•

You'll also see ones that say "Blah blah blah we're a bunch of pussies and don't want anyone to be able to defend themselves in this liquor establishment."

I've always thought those were specifically shitty, since the place I'm thinking of is a ghetto corner grocery store.

1
TenCentBeerNightRiot•

I'm not positive but I think liquor stores are actually explicitly a place it's illegal to convey a firearm in Ohio

2
lordhamster1977XDM-10 or Glock 29SF IWB•

Not sure that is correct. Unless you have a statement to that effect from the AG, I'd not bet on it.

0
hydraghostOP•

Thanks for the reply! See this is what I thought, I just didn't want it to be left to interpretation when most places have these stickers posted as implying the weight of the law. I always check before entering a public facility and see the no gun stickers in a lot of places, but I have rarely ever seen the actual law with the ORC section posted in a storefront window.

I'll gladly take the request to leave or the civil trespass than be ignorant and get hit with the felony gun possession.

I wish I could just say no to that business just on the premise that they even support a no gun environment, but there are so many locations in my area that have them that it would be difficult to shop anywhere.

1
Face999•

VERBATIM from the Ohio CHL manual

Signage The law does not say precisely what language must be on a sign prohibiting firearms. At a minimum, signs must be conspicuous and inform people that firearms and/or concealed handguns are prohibited. However, the law suggests that the prohibited locations post a sign that substantially says the following: Unless otherwise authorized by law, pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code, no person shall knowingly possess, have under his control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly handgun or dangerous ordnance onto these premises.

In short - it could be written on a napkin and posted and be legit.

Signage on state-required locations ARE treated differently.

1
DickJagamoOH•

In short - it could be written on a napkin and posted and be legit.

As in, the "official text" in the code or just "no guns"

1
Face999•

There is no official text - any verbiage conveying no guns is legal.

Only official signage is for Gov. Offices requiring posting (may apply to churches now, but no idea, recent law change re: posting .)

1
andrew_craft•

The way I am reading the Signage law portion in the booklet is as follows:

Signage holds weight. This is outlined by 2923.1212. Those actual places are then outlined in B of 2923.126. These places can restrict you from carrying. Doesnt appear that a company could do this unless they are one of the places described in 2923.126.

2923.1212 Signage prohibiting concealed handguns.
Each person, board, or entity that owns or controls any place or premises identified in division (B) of section 2923.126 of the Revised Code as a place into which a valid license does not authorize the licensee to carry a concealed handgun, or a designee of such a person, board, or entity, shall post in one or more conspicuous locations in the premises a sign that contains a statement in substantially the following form: "Unless otherwise authorized by law, pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code, no person shall knowingly possess, have under the person's control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance onto these premises."

2923.126 Duties of licensed individual.
(B) A valid concealed handgun license does not authorize the licensee to carry a concealed handgun in any manner prohibited under division (B) of section 2923.12 of the Revised Code or in any manner prohibited under section 2923.16 of the Revised Code. A valid license does not authorize the licensee to carry a concealed handgun into any of the following places:

(1) A police station, sheriff's office, or state highway patrol station, premises controlled by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation; a state correctional institution, jail, workhouse, or other detention facility; any area of an airport passenger terminal that is beyond a passenger or property screening checkpoint or to which access is restricted through security measures by the airport authority or a public agency; or an institution that is maintained, operated, managed, and governed pursuant to division (A) of section 5119.14 of the Revised Code or division (A)(1) of section 5123.03 of the Revised Code;

(2) A school safety zone if the licensee's carrying the concealed handgun is in violation of section 2923.122 of the Revised Code;

(3) A courthouse or another building or structure in which a courtroom is located if the licensee's carrying the concealed handgun is in violation of section 2923.123 of the Revised Code;

(4) Any premises or open air arena for which a D permit has been issued under Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code if the licensee's carrying the concealed handgun is in violation of section 2923.121 of the Revised Code;

(5) Any premises owned or leased by any public or private college, university, or other institution of higher education, unless the handgun is in a locked motor vehicle or the licensee is in the immediate process of placing the handgun in a locked motor vehicle or unless the licensee is carrying the concealed handgun pursuant to a written policy, rule, or other authorization that is adopted by the institution's board of trustees or other governing body and that authorizes specific individuals or classes of individuals to carry a concealed handgun on the premises;

(6) Any church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship, unless the church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship posts or permits otherwise;

(7) Any building that is a government facility of this state or a political subdivision of this state and that is not a building that is used primarily as a shelter, restroom, parking facility for motor vehicles, or rest facility and is not a courthouse or other building or structure in which a courtroom is located that is subject to division (B)(3) of this section, unless the governing body with authority over the building has enacted a statute, ordinance, or policy that permits a licensee to carry a concealed handgun into the building;

(8) A place in which federal law prohibits the carrying of handguns.

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