13 Anti-Liberty Bills Introduced by Ohio Lawmakers

We see lawmakers introduce bills every legislative session that promise to reduce violence, but actually do little more than further infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens with zero real-world benefits.

This session is no different. We're only about one-fourth into the 2-year-long 133rd General Assembly and there are already 13 bills threatening our liberty. Needless to say, Buckeye Firearms Association opposes all of these bills.

It is highly unlikely that any of these bills will pass. In fact, we expect most to die in committee. But we will continue to watch them closely.

You can see the pro-gun and anti-gun bills we're tracking by clicking on the Legislation link in the navigation bar.

HB 240 FIREARM STORAGE (KELLY, B., MIRANDA, J.)
To prohibit negligent storage of a firearm and to provide criminal penalties if a minor gains access to an improperly stored firearm.

COMMENT: This bill seeks to force gun owners to make firearms inoperable and criminalize a gun owner's personal choices regarding firearm storage.

HB 315 SUICIDE PREVENTION (LISTON, B.)
To require federally licensed firearms dealers to provide suicide prevention information to the purchaser of a firearm.

COMMENT: This bill puts an additional burden on gun dealers and opens the door to anti-gun propaganda being forced on every gun owner.

HB 316 FIREARM ORDERS (RUSSO, A., SWEENEY, B.)
To enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to allow family members, household members, and law enforcement officers to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person's access to firearms if that person poses a danger to themselves or others.

COMMENT: This bill is yet another attempt to ignore due process and seize personal property after an allegation and creates the risk of government abuse of power.

HB 317 FIREARM SALES (ROBINSON, P., MILLER, A.)
To enact the Protect Law Enforcement Act to require a firearm transfer to be made through a dealer, through a law enforcement agency, or pursuant to a specified exception, and to require a background check when a firearm is transferred.

COMMENT: This bill uses a highly misleading title for what is basically another attempt at establishing "universal background checks" and preventing transfers of firearms between individuals who are otherwise law-abiding.

HB 319 FIREARMS CONDUCT (WEST, T., MILLER, A.)
To restore local authority to generally regulate firearms related conduct.

COMMENT: In just 13 lines of text, this bills seeks to repeal ORC 9.68 in its entirety (commonly known as "preemption") and give Ohio's nearly 2,300 cities, villages, and townships the ability to pass any gun controls laws they wish. This would effectively obliterate Second Amendment rights for all Ohioans.

HB 320 FIREARMS TRANSFERS (WEST, T.)
To prohibit a federally licensed firearms dealer from Transferring a firearm while a background check is pending unless 30 days have elapsed.

COMMENT: This bill seeks to dramatically extend the delay on pending NICS background checks from 3 to 30 days.

SB 19 PROTECTION ORDERS (WILLIAMS, S.)
To enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to allow family members, household members, and law enforcement officers to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person's access to firearms if that person poses a danger to themselves or others.

COMMENT: The same as HB 316 above, but introduced into the Senate.

SB 62 FIREARM MODIFICATIONS (THOMAS, C.)
To prohibit certain conduct regarding trigger cranks, bump-fire devices, and other items that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's rate of fire but do not convert it into an automatic firearm.

COMMENT: This bill is basically a bump stock ban, but its vague language would ban a wide range of modifications.

SB 63 FIREARM TRANSFERS (THOMAS, C.)
To require a firearm transfer to be made through a dealer, through a law enforcement agency, or pursuant to a specified exception, and to require a background check when a firearm is transferred.

COMMENT: The same as HB 317 above, but introduced into the Senate and without the misleading title.

SB 64 FIREARM PURCHASES (THOMAS, C.)
To raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to age 21 and to increase the penalty for improperly furnishing firearms to an underage person.

COMMENT: Currently, you must be 21 to purchase a handgun and 18 to purchase a long gun. This bill would make it illegal for a any 18-year-old to buy even a hunting rifle.

SB 65 GUN SHOWS (THOMAS, C.)
To regulate the transfer of firearms at a gun show.

COMMENT: This bill seeks to apply "universal background check" rules specifically to gun shows and prevent private transfers that are now legal.

SB 182 FIREARM PURCHASES (THOMAS, C., LEHNER, P.)
To raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to age 21 and to increase the penalty for improperly furnishing firearms to an underage person.

COMMENT: The same as SB 64 above.

SB 183 FIREARM TRANSFERS (THOMAS, C., LEHNER, P.)
To require a firearm transfer to be made through a dealer, through a law enforcement agency, or pursuant to a specified exception, and to require a background check when a firearm is transferred.

COMMENT: Yet another "universal background check" bill, the same as HB 317 and SB 63 above.

Dean Rieck is Executive Director of Buckeye Firearms Association, a former competitive shooter, NRA Patron Member, #1 NRA Recruiter for 2013, business owner and partner with Second Call Defense.