(a) No person shall knowingly carry or have a weapon concealed on the person’s person or concealed ready at hand:
(1) In Class D liquor permit premises unless the person possesses a concealed carry permit and is not consuming alcohol;
(2) In a vehicle unless the person possesses a concealed carry permit;
(3) In or on any private buildings where the owner or operator of such private buildings has posted a sign in clear view or has provided verbal notice of such prohibition; provided, however, that firearms may be maintained in locked compartments of parked personal vehicles in the manner authorized by state law;
(4) In private day care centers where “no guns” signs are posted;
(5) In a school building or school premises;
(6) In or on any public or private college, university or other institution of higher education, unless the board of trustees or other governing body of such institution has adopted a written policy or rule authorizing individuals to carry a concealed handgun on school premises.
(b) No person shall do any of the following:
(1) If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose, fail to promptly inform any law enforcement officer who approaches the person after the person has been stopped that the person is carrying a handgun or other weapon;
(2) If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose, knowingly fail to keep the person’s hands in plain sight at any time after any law enforcement officer begins approaching the person while stopped and before the law enforcement officer leaves, unless the failure is pursuant to and in accordance with directions given by a law enforcement officer;
(3) If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose, knowingly disregard or fail to comply with any lawful order of any law enforcement officer given while the person is stopped, including, but not limited to, a specific order to the person to keep the person’s hands in plain sight.
(c) (1) This section does not apply to any of the following:
A. An officer, agent or employee or this or any other state or the United States, or to a law enforcement officer, who is authorized to carry concealed weapons or dangerous ordnance, or is authorized to carry handguns and is acting within the scope of the officer’s, agent’s or employee’s duties;
B. Any person who is employed in this State, who is authorized to carry concealed weapons or dangerous ordnance or is authorized to carry handguns, and who is subject to and in compliance with the requirements of Ohio R.C. 109.801 unless the appointing authority of the person has expressly specified that the exemption provided in subsection (c)(1)B. hereof does not apply to the person.
C. A person’s transportation or storage of a firearm, other than a firearm described in divisions (G) to (M) of Ohio R.C. 2923.11 in a motor vehicle for any lawful purpose if the firearm is not on the actor’s person;
D. A person’s storage or possession of a firearm, other than a firearm described in divisions (G) to (M) of Ohio R.C. 2923.11 in the actor’s own home for any lawful purpose.
(2) Subsection (a)(2) of this section does not apply to any person who, at the time of the alleged carrying or possession of a handgun, either is carrying a valid concealed handgun license or is an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States and is carrying a valid military identification card and documentation of successful completion of firearms training that meets or exceeds the training requirements described in division (G)(1) of Ohio R.C. 2923.125, unless the person knowingly is in a place described in division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2923.126.
(d) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (a)(1) of this section of carrying or having control of a weapon other than a handgun and other than a dangerous ordnance that the actor was not otherwise prohibited by law from having the weapon.
(e) Whoever violates subsection (a)(2) is guilty of carrying concealed weapons without a permit. Except as otherwise provided by law, carrying concealed weapons in violation of subsection (a)(2) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section or of any offense of violence, if the weapon involved is a firearm that is either loaded or for which the offender has ammunition ready at hand, or if the weapon involved is dangerous ordnance, carrying concealed weapons in violation of subsection (a) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. If the weapon involved is a firearm and the violation of this section is committed at premises for which a D permit has been issued under Chapter 4303, of the Revised Code or if the offense is committed aboard an aircraft, or with purpose to carry a concealed weapon aboard an aircraft, regardless of the weapon involved, carrying concealed weapons in violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(f) For purposes of this section, “weapon” does not include any knife, razor, or cutting instrument if the instrument was not used as a weapon.
(Ord. 2019-31. Passed 12-18-19; Amended Ord. 2021-06. Passed 4-5-21.)