Ohio Department of Health stay-at-home order exempts guns & ammo retailers

A stay-at-home order issued by the Ohio Department of Health specifically exempts retailers and suppliers that sell firearms and ammunition from the long list of businesses that have been ordered to close.

Director's Order that All Persons Stay at Home Unless Engaged in Essential Work or Activity

I, Amy Acton, MD, MPH, Director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), pursuant to the authority granted to me in R.C. 3701.13 to “make special orders...for preventing the spread of contagious or infectious diseases” Order the following to prevent the spread of COVID-19 into the State of Ohio:

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2. Non-essential business and operations must cease. All businesses and operations in the State, except Essential Businesses and Operations as defined below, are required to cease all activities within the State...

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All Essential Businesses and Operations are encouraged to remain open. Essential Businesses and Operations shall comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined in this Order, including by maintaining six-foot social distancing for both employees and members of the public at all times, including, but not limited to, when any customers are standing in line.

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12. Essential Businesses and Operations. For the purposes of this Order, Essential Businesses and Operations means...

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q. Supplies for Essential Businesses and Operations. Businesses that sell, manufacture, or supply ... firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers for purposes of safety and security;

While gun stores are allowed to remain open, some have informed us that they will offer curb-side pickup, limit the number of persons inside the store, etc. in order to observe guidance on social distancing.

Buckeye Firearms Association continues to follow up on reports of some Ohio Sheriff offices canceling appointments for Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHLs), temporarily suspending applications and renewals, or limiting hours for license processing. An update can be found here.

Chad D. Baus served as Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary from 2013-2019. He is co-founder of BFA-PAC, and served as its Vice Chairman for 15 years. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website, and is also an NRA-certified firearms instructor.