BREAKING: Ohio Files for Temporary Restraining Order to Stop Columbus from Enforcing Gun Laws

The State of Ohio has just filed a "Complaint for Declaratory Judgement, TRO, and Preliminary and Permanent Injunctive Relief" against the City of Columbus and City Attorney Zack Klein.

Essentially, this means the State is asking a judge to hear their arguments that Columbus has enacted laws that are in conflict with Ohio's firearms preemption law, forbidding cities from regulating firearms, their components, ammunition, or knives.

From the Complaint:

Ohio Revised Code Section 9.68, which prevents municipalities from regulating firearms, has twice withstood municipal home rule challenges.

Despite this, and with great political theater, on December 5, 2022, the Columbus City Council passed several ordinances ... that restrict, impede, and/or ban the ownership, possession, purchase, other acquisition, transport, and storage of firearms, their components, and their ammunition.

Absent court intervention, the Columbus Firearm Ordinances will become effective on December 15, 2022, and will instantly criminalize hundreds, if not thousands, of Columbus residents (including Columbus residents that also reside in Fairfield County).

A judge will review the complaint and may hear oral arguments on the matter before issuing the court's decision on the temporary restraining order. Whether the matter ends there or proceeds to a trial is something we should know soon.

"Buckeye Firearms Association appreciates the Attorney General Dave Yost's office being open to discussing this matter with us and taking such quick action," said Dean Rieck, Executive Director of Buckeye Firearms Association.

"The City of Columbus knows it is flouting Ohio law and that they do not have the authority to regulate firearms at the municipal level. Mayor Ginther, City Attorney Zack Klein, and the entire City Council should be ashamed for taking this matter so lightly and engaging in political theater that wastes time and taxpayer dollars."

Columbus recently passed an ordinance that sought to ban magazines that can hold 30 or more rounds and mandate firearm storage rules, among other measures. We warned the city that such laws violated preemption in Ohio Revised Code 9.68, and also reminded them that they had just lost an expensive lawsuit to our Foundation over a similar matter.

BFA supporters also delivered well over 9,000 emails to the Mayor and City Council to persuade them to stop their efforts to regulate firearms. But City Council voted to enact the ordinance regardless.

If a judge agrees with the complaint, and issues a temporary restraining order, the city will not be able to enforce the laws.

Read the complaint here.

Buckeye Firearms Association helped bring about preemption in Ohio and we have no intention of allowing Columbus or any other city to ignore it. We will do whatever it takes to fight for the rights of the residents of Columbus and all Ohioans.

We will keep you informed of further developments.