(A) No person shall knowingly carry or have, concealed on his or her person or concealed ready at hand, any deadly weapon.
(B) This section does not apply to:
(1) Officers, agents or employees of this or any other state or the United States, or to law enforcement officers, authorized to carry concealed weapons or dangerous ordnance, and acting within the scope of their duties; or
(2) A person who, at the time of the alleged carrying or possession of a handgun, is in possession of a valid license or temporary emergency license to carry a concealed handgun issued under R.C. §§ 2923.125 or 2923.1213 or a license to carry a concealed handgun that was issued by another state with which the attorney general has entered into a reciprocity agreement under R.C. § 109.69, unless the person knowingly is in a place described in R.C. § 2923.126(B).
(C) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section of carrying or having control of a weapon other than dangerous ordnance, that the actor was not otherwise prohibited by law from having the weapon, and that any of the following apply:
(1) The weapon other than a handgun was carried or kept ready at hand by the actor for defensive purposes, while the actor was engaged in or was going to or from the actor's lawful business or occupation, which business or occupation was of such character or was necessarily carried on in such manner or at such a time or place as to render the actor particularly susceptible to criminal attack, such as would justify a prudent man in going armed.
(2) The weapon other than a handgun was carried or kept ready at hand by the actor for defensive purposes, while the actor was engaged in a lawful activity, and had reasonable cause to fear a criminal attack upon the actor or a member of the actor's family or upon the actor's home, such as would justify a prudent person in going armed.
(3) The weapon was carried or kept ready at hand by the actor for any lawful purpose and while in the actor's own home.
(4) The weapon was being transported in a motor vehicle for any lawful purpose, and was not on the actor's person, and, if the weapon was a firearm, was carried in compliance with the applicable requirements of § 137.04(C).
(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of carrying concealed weapons, a misdemeanor of the first degree, if the offender has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, R.C. § 2923.12 or of any offense of violence, or if the weapon involved is not a firearm that is either loaded or for which the offender has ammunition ready at hand, or if the weapon involved is not a dangerous ordnance, or if the offense is not committed aboard an aircraft, nor with purpose to carry a concealed weapon aboard an aircraft, regardless of the weapon involved.
('80 Code, §549.02) (Ord. 37-04, passed 6-21-04) Penalty, see § 130.99