DUBLIN, Ohio - A recently enacted Concealed-Carry Law may be achallenge for credit unions here. The Ohio law allows employees whoare licensed to carry concealed guns on company property exceptwhere explicitly prohibited. While most states already have lawspermitting people to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon,the Ohio law includes interesting provisions including thefollowing: *Employers can create and enforce rules prohibitingfirearms in the workplace. The required notice must state, "Unlessotherwise authorized by law, pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code, noperson shall knowingly possess, have under the person's control,convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnanceonto these premises." *Employers opting to ban guns must post signsin conspicuous places including all building entrances and parkingarea entrances *Private employers are immune from civil suits forany injury caused by a handgun on company property unless theemployer acted "with malicious purpose" *No weapons are allowed ingovernment buildings, airports, day care centers and mosteducational facilities. According to Ohio Credit Union LeagueDirector of Research Dave Shoup financial institutions are notincluded in the law's list of prohibited facilities into which alicensed individual could legally enter with a gun or otherfirearm. "The final decision on whether to post signage or not isbest answered by each credit union's management and board," saidShoup. "We've been keeping credit unions updated on the situation.Since Ohio is one of the last states to adopt a concealed-carry lawit is a big deal at first, but from talking to other state leaguesthat have a similar law in place it will settle down over time."While he says he's no expert on what all CUs here will do, Shoupsays that the Ohio CU System will be posting signs prohibitingentrance with a firearm at each entryway and the entrance to itsparking lots. While posting a "no guns" sign may seem like anobvious decision for businesses, the Ohio Council of RetailMerchants research finds that the jury is still out on whatpercentage of overall business owners will actually do so. At issueare concerns the signs may inadvertently pull them into the alwaysemotional gun control fray, and they may lose business because ofit. Shoup says the general consensus among credit unions that hehas spoken with is that it makes good business sense to prohibitfirearms not only for "overall safety of employees and members butalso because credit unions are already engaged in a business withtight security issues." Shoup adds that credit unions here cannotassume that employee policies and handbooks that simply prohibit"unauthorized weapons" is enough. Employees may decideconcealed-carry licenses now makes their guns "authorized." "Ouradvice to credit unions is to make sure they have updated their HRpolicies accordingly and then fully communicate any changes totheir employees," said Shoup. "Some of the credit unions that willpost notices are opting to create their own sign that fits withintheir dcor or brand environment." Credit unions are also encouragedto implement a workplace violence policy; outline procedures forreporting incidents of workplace harassment, intimidation orviolence; develop a list of warning signs about potential sourcesof workplace violence and provide a list of resources for employeeson how to deal with stress. Free posters are available on the OhioAttorney General's Web site and marketing firm Images & Ink hascreated static-cling window decals that state "Weapon-Free Zone",followed by the required signage wording and an anti-gun symbol inred. Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin are now the onlystates without such a Concealed-Carry [email protected]