Ohio legislature may abolish gun-free zones after OSU attack

Gun free zones are starting to become a thing of the past.

After the attack at Ohio State University, the Ohio state legislature is reconsidering whether they should continue to ban students from carrying firearms. Abdul Razak Ali Artan plowed his car through a crowd and used a knife to attack students and faculty on the campus of 11 people before being shot and killed by OSU police officer Alan Horujko.

The Ohio Senate is looking to pass a bill that would reduce carrying a gun on college campuses from a felony to a misdemeanor. A year ago, the Republican-controlled House passed House Bill 48, 68-29, which would allow universities to permit people to carry concealed handguns.

While Artan did not possess a firearm, instead opting for his car and a knife, it’s possible a student who was carrying a firearm could have stopped Artan from harming as many people as he did.

The bill was scheduled to go through a possible Senate committee vote on Wednesday, but after the attack, Senate leaders are now expected to take up the bill as early as Wednesday afternoon.