Some Ohio felons could get expedited pardon, gun rights restored

Are you a convicted felon of a nonviolent crime? Have you turned your life around for the better since your prison release?

Felony convictions can lead to a lifetime of hurdles and the loss of rights, including gun ownership, but if you answered yes to the questions above, it might not have to be that way.

Gov. Mike DeWine created the Ohio Governor's Expedited Pardon Project in December 2019 as an alternative to the traditional clemency application process, according to the project webpage. Too many pardon requests from those who had not been rehabilitated caused frequent delays in the process for those who have reformed their lives, leading some to forgo applying entirely just to avoid a wait list that could last two years.

The program is exclusively for qualifying reformed ex-offenders, providing applicants with one-on-one assistance to accelerate the process time to months instead.

“I believe those who’ve committed certain felony offenses in the past and have gone on to lead good lives deserve better," DeWine said. "They should not pay for their mistakes their entire lives.”

DeWine's office partnered with the University of Akron School of Law, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Cleveland State University College of Law, University of Dayton School of Law, and the Ohio Justice & Policy Center — all working to increase awareness and improve access to the expedited application process. To start the process, visit Ohio State's page here.

As of Feb, 2, 2026, the project has received more than 1,600 applications from 84 Ohio counties and 33 states, according to the Ohio State Moritz College of Law website for the project.

One successful candidate noted under the project webpage's "Stories of Ohio Pardon Recipients" section was Aaron Ward, who at age 23 had been convicted in 1985 for drug trafficking and breaking and entering.

“I love to hunt but with my record, I was only allowed to use a bow,” Ward said. “When friends would ask me, ‘Did you shoot any deer today?’ I would always have to make an excuse because I didn’t want them to know why I couldn’t use a gun.”

After being out of trouble for more than 20 years, Ward applied for and received an expedited pardon in 2021.

"I got a Kentucky hunting license," he said. "I've had fresh fish out of a lake and now I'm waiting on winter to get here and see if I can put a little bit of deer in my freezer. My life's changing.”

Applicant criteria

Ohio State's dedicate website at ohioexpeditedpardon.org lists the following criteria for applying for an expedited pardon:

• The person must have completed the sentence for the Ohio conviction(s) for which they are seeking a pardon at least 10 years ago.
• The person must not have committed any additional crimes in at least the past 10 years, including DUI and OVI which are considered criminal offenses. Minor traffic citations are ok during this period.
• The person must not have been convicted of any disqualifying offenses (see details below).
• The person must have made good faith efforts to meet all requirements of sentencing, such as the payment of fines or restitution.
• The person must have a post-offense employment history or a compelling reason why he or she has not been employed.
• The person must have some history of performing volunteer work or community service.

Disqualifying offenses

• Those convicted of any of the following offenses are not eligible for the project, according to the Ohio State page:
• Aggravated murder, murder, attempted murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, negligent homicide, aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide.
• Rape, sexual battery, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, gross sexual imposition, sexual imposition, pandering obscenity involving a minor, pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, felonious sexual penetration, importuning, compelling prostitution, promoting prostitution, disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, displaying matter harmful to juveniles, pandering obscenity, deception to obtain matter harmful to juveniles, human trafficking.
• Kidnapping, abduction, felony child endangering, terrorism.
• Domestic violence, patient abuse.

For more information on the project, visit the Ohio Governor's Expedited Pardon Project webpage or the Ohio State Moritz College of Law website.

BFA-backed HB 5 would restore gun rights for nonviolent offenders

Ohio House Bill 5 would crack down on repeat felons but restore rights for nonviolent offenders who have paid their debt to society and have lived a productive life.
In May 2025, Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) again testified before the Ohio House Judiciary Committee in support of HB 5.

"House Bill 5 clarifies the process for sealing and expungement for low level offenders, making it easier to navigate for those who have paid their debt to society. It solves the issue for those who no longer live in Ohio," BFA's Rob Sexton told the committee during testimony. "The framers of our Constitutions did not envision a lifetime of lost Constitutional protections for low level offenses."

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.