Ohio lawmakers have amended a gun bill to exempt active military members over the age of 18 from the state's concealed weapons permitting law.
Sen. Joe Uecker, a Republican from Loveland in southwest Ohio and the bill sponsor, says military members already have extensive firearms training.
Uecker also cited recent reports that the group calling itself the Islamic State has publicly encouraged attacks against law enforcement and military service members.
The Senate Civil Justice Committee approved the change Wednesday but did not vote on the bill.
The legislation would also reduce from 12 hours to eight the training time to get a concealed weapons permit and allow the attorney general's fraud agents to be armed when investigating nursing homes or other residential-care facilities.