Ohio lawmakers continue advancing bills BFA can support

The number of firearms-related bills finding support from Buckeye Firearms Association continues to increase.

Here are three recent additions to our list:

House Bill 120 — Exempt firearm safety devices from sales tax. This bill, sponsored by Reps. Darnell Brewer (D-Cleveland) and Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester), would exempt the sale of firearm safety devices from sales and use tax. The bill was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 26, with its first hearing held May 14.

House Bill 235 — Authorize a tax credit for handgun training and firearms storage. Brewer is also behind this one, along with Rep. Meredith Lawson-Rowe (D-Reynoldsburg). The bill would authorize a nonrefundable income tax credit for the cost of handgun training and firearms storage and locking devices. This bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee on April 30.

House Bill 330 — Authorize a sales tax holiday for firearm safety, storage devices. This bill, which authorizes a sales tax holiday for four months each year for the sale of firearm safety and storage devices, was sponsored by Reps. Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) and Tex Fischer (R-Boardman). The duo also sponsored House Bill 331 to eliminate suppressors and mufflers from the definition of dangerous ordnance and remove language that mandates suppressor registration under the National Firearms Act. The bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee on June 11.

BFA executive director Dean Rieck emphasized that these bills represent practical measures that advance safety in some households without infringing on Second Amendment rights.

"We have always supported training and safe firearm storage as long as there are no government mandates," Rieck said. "It should be up to each individual to exercise their constitutional rights as they see fit."

To see where BFA stands on all current firearms-related legislation in the 136th Ohio General Assembly, visit our Legislation page.

Coming tomorrow: Learn about 10 new bills BFA opposes — 9 from the House, 1 from the Senate.