willbird wrote:IMHO the gun free zone thing does NOT apply to driving down a highway,road, or street that is a public thoroughfare, and as far as I know it does not apply to walking down the sidewalk even past a school.
I'm afraid it does. There is no exception to the Federal GFSZA for roads, highways, public thoroughfares, sidewalks, or any other public property.
The Federal GFSZA [18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2)(A)] does not apply to the possession of a firearm—
(i) on private property not part of school grounds;
(ii) if the individual possessing the firearm is licensed to do so by the State in which the school zone is located or a political subdivision of the State, and the law of the State or political subdivision requires that, before an individual obtains such a license, the law enforcement authorities of the State or political subdivision verify that the individual is qualified under law to receive the license;
(iii) that is—
(I) not loaded; and
(II) in a locked container, or a locked firearms rack that is on a motor vehicle;
(iv) by an individual for use in a program approved by a school in the school zone;
(v) by an individual in accordance with a contract entered into between a school in the school zone and the individual or an employer of the individual;
(vi) by a law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity; or
(vii) that is unloaded and is possessed by an individual while traversing school premises for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting, if the entry on school premises is authorized by school authorities.
willbird wrote:Ohio law allows one to be armed while picking up and dropping off children at a school as long as you stay in the vehicle.
That only applies if you have a CHL or license from another state that is recognized by Ohio. In the case of an Ohio CHL, that is also an exception to the Federal GFSZA since it is a license issued by the state in which the school is located, see point (ii) above. Also, Ohio law has changed, you can now leave your firearm locked in the vehicle and exit the vehicle, and can be on school property for any reason not just dropping off or picking up a child. See ORC 2923.122
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2923.122 (4) This section does not apply to a person who conveys or attempts to convey a handgun into, or possesses a handgun in, a school safety zone if at the time of that conveyance, attempted conveyance, or possession of the handgun all of the following apply:
(a) The person is carrying a valid concealed handgun license or the person 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 section 2923.125 of the Revised Code.
(b) The person leaves the handgun in a motor vehicle .
(c) The handgun does not leave the motor vehicle.
(d) If the person exits the motor vehicle, the person locks the motor vehicle.