Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Restore Gun Ownership Right to Ohio Citizens

Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) has announced that a bill to restore gun ownership rights has been introduced in the Ohio Senate.

Senator Jason Wilson (D-Columbia) introduced SB247 to align Ohio law with federal statutes regarding the restoration of rights to Ohio firearms purchasers. The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Niehaus, Cafaro, Grendell, Buehrer, Coughlin and Seitz.

Due to a U.S. Supreme Court decision, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) has stopped accepting Ohio's court orders restoring a citizen's right to own firearms. The purpose of this bill is to update Ohio's statutes to address this issue and protect Ohio citizens' legal rights under the law.

Ken Hanson, Legislative Chair of Buckeye Firearms Association, said, "Someone who has been legally buying firearms, in some cases for many years after they received a legal Ohio restoration, may suddenly discover that he or she is back under a firearm disability because Ohio's restoration of their firearm rights was not deemed complete by Federal authorities. The proposed bill realigns Ohio's law with new Federal enforcement rules to effectively get the same result that has been working in Ohio for years."

Senator Wilson said, "Given the change in how BATFE views Ohio's restoration process, this small change is needed to protect the rights of Ohio citizens. It only serves to ensure that Ohio law is consistent with current Federal statutes and regulations, and that Ohio's citizens are able enjoy their rights without undue burden or interference from Federal authorities due to inconsistencies in our law."

Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman Jim Irvine stated, "We are pleased to see bi-partisan efforts to refine and improve Ohio's current firearm laws. The Senate has two bills that address the most pressing issues facing those who legally own guns in Ohio. SB239 would allow licensed citizens to carry concealed firearms in restaurants and fix burdensome car carry rules. SB247 would align Ohio law with Federal statutes and protect citizen rights. We hope the legislature moves quickly to pass both."

Click here to read the bill in its entirety.