2 BFA-backed pro-gun bills on the move with hearings this week

A pair of pro-gun Senate bills backed by Buckeye Firearms Association are scheduled for hearings this week — one today, Feb. 17, and one tomorrow, Feb. 18.

Senate Bill 273, sponsored by Sen. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield), passed unanimously as Sub. SB 273 on Nov. 19, 2025, and is scheduled for its first hearing in the House Public Safety Committee at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17. SB 273 would enact the "Keep Them Safe Act" to provide guidelines and civil immunity for the voluntary storage of firearms.

Buckeye Firearms Association's Rob Sexton submitted testimony Oct. 15 and testified in person Oct. 29.

Watch the House Public Safety Committee hearing live here.

Senate Bill 214, also sponsored by Koehler, is scheduled for its third hearing with the Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18. SB 214 would remove firearm mufflers and suppressors from the classification of dangerous ordnance.

BFA's Sexton testified in favor of SB 214 in June 2025.

Watch the Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee hearing live here.

To see where BFA stands on all gun-related bills in the Ohio General Assembly, check out our Legislation page.

Joe D. "Buck" Ruth, a pen name for Scott Hummel, is a longtime small-game hunter and gun owner who spent nearly three decades in the news industry. He is the website and social-media manager for Buckeye Firearms Association