By John McCarthy
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Although the state's largest police union won't oppose a new version of a bill to allow Ohioans to carry hidden guns, Gov. Bob Taft still backs the Ohio State Highway Patrol's demand that drivers and their passengers not be allowed to carry them, his spokesman said.

The signal from the Fraternal Order of Police on Tuesday was the first time the group has not opposed the idea since 1995, Columbus Police Sgt. Mike Taylor said. Mr. Taft has said he won't support a bill that police groups oppose.

The Senate Civil Justice Committee accepted a substitute version of the bill the House passed in March. It makes major changes in who may apply for a permit to carry concealed weapons and how law enforcement checks those applicants.

The bill would authorize Ohio's sheriffs to issue permits to residents who pass a criminal background check and take an approved safety course. Ohio would become the 44th state with some form of permission to carry hidden guns.

The bill's future, though, is still uncertain. With only five legislative days before the current session of the Legislature ends, the House would have to agree to the Senate changes and Mr. Taft would either have to sign the bill or allow it to become law without his signature.

Mr. Taft spoke with representatives of law enforcement groups about his concerns, spokesman Joe Andrews said. He wants to add requirements to offer trigger locks when a gun is sold and information about the safe storage of weapons, Mr. Andrews said. Gun owners would not be required to buy locks or store their weapons at home, he said.

Mr. Taft also wants to keep concealed weapons out of vehicles, Mr. Andrews said. The patrol, which ultimately reports to Mr. Taft, thinks current law that allows drivers and passengers to leave guns on seats with ammunition nearby is enough, patrol spokesman Lt. John Born said.

However, conservatives in the Senate and House could balk at including such a provision.

"That's a deal-killer," said Sen. Lynn Wachtmann, a Napoleon Republican and co-sponsor of the Senate version of the bill.

The Senate version would require fingerprinting of applicants - an idea opposed by many House Republicans - and would prohibit permits for those who have assaulted a police officer even if the charge was a misdemeanor, a major FOP concern.

The changes also include allowing employers - public or private - to dictate whether people can carry hidden guns on their premises and ordering the attorney general to clarify when Ohio law permits a person to use deadly force.

Sen. Jim Jordan, an Urbana Republican and gun-rights advocate, was not happy that applicants would have to be fingerprinted but said that requiring sheriffs to destroy the prints within 20 days made the provision easier to accept.

"Overall, if we can get a concealed carry bill that's reasonable, I think it's a step in the right direction and a win for Ohioans," Mr. Jordan said.

Senate hearings had stopped when the state appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court a ruling declaring Ohio's concealed weapons law unconstitutional. The 1st Ohio District Court of Appeals ruled April 10 that the state's ban violated the state Constitution's guarantee that people can arm themselves for self-defense.

The Supreme Court, however, has kept the ban in effect while it considers the case, and no ruling is expected before the end of the legislative session, so backers urged the Senate to resume hearings.