Ohio lawmakers move on some BFA-backed gun bills before recessing

The Ohio General Assembly has adjourned for recess but not before making progress on a few bills supported by Buckeye Firearms Association, including one that would provide guidelines and civil immunity for the voluntary storage of firearms by retailers and law enforcement agencies as a service to citizens.

Known as the Keep Them Safe Act, Senate Bill 273 was passed unanimously Nov. 19.

Here's a rundown of where all BFA-backed bills stand, in numeric order starting with House bills:

HB 5 - RESTORE RIGHTS OF NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS (Sponsors: Josh Williams, Bernard Willis) To crack down on repeat felons and restore rights for non-violent offenders who have paid their debt to society and have lived a productive life. The House passed the bill, which had six hearings in the House Judiciary Committee. BFA's Rob Sexton testified in support for the second time during the committee's second hearing May 14. The bill has had one hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Oct. 22.

HB 68 - ALLOW CONCEALED CARRY IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS (Sponsors: Adam Mathews, Justin Pizzulli) To allow a concealed handgun licensee to carry a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in a building or structure that is not a courthouse. The bill has had four hearings in the Hous Public Safety Committee, the last one held June 17. BFA's Sexton testified in support during the committee's second hearing May 20.

HB 108 - ENACT THE SELF-DEFENSE PROTECTION ACT (Sponsor: Josh Williams) To create a pretrial procedure for a person asserting self-defense, defense of another, or defense of that person's property. The bill has had three hearings in the House Judiciary Committee, the last one held June 7. BFA's Sexton testified in support of the bill during the committee's second hearing June 4.

HB 120 - EXEMPT FIREARM SAFETY DEVICES FROM SALES TAX (Sponsors: Darnell Brewer, Jennifer Gross) To exempt from sales and use tax sales of firearm safety devices. One hearing was held May 14 in the House Ways and Means Committee.

HB 126 - PROHIBIT CERTAIN PUBLIC NUISANCE ACTIONS (Sponsors: Adam Mathews, Meredith Craig) To prohibit public nuisance actions concerning product liability. NOTE: This state-level bill, though not specific to gun or ammunition manufacturers, is similar in nature to the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. HB 126 states that no person or government may bring a public nuisance claim alleging that the design, manufacture, supply, marketing, distribution, promotion, advertising, labeling, or sale of a product unreasonably interferes with a right common to the general public. The House passed the bill, and it is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it has had three hearings, the last one held Oct. 29.

HB 235 - AUTHORIZE A TAX CREDIT FOR HANDGUN TRAINING AND FIREARMS STORAGE (Sponsors: Meredith Lawson, Darnell Brewer) To authorize a nonrefundable income tax credit for the cost of handgun training and firearms storage and locking devices. This bill has not advanced since being referred to the House Ways and Means Committee on April 30.

HB 330 - AUTHORIZE A SALES TAX HOLIDAY FOR FIREARM SAFETY, STORAGE DEVICES (Sponsors: Kellie Deeter, Tex Fischer) To authorize a sales tax holiday for four months each year for the sale of firearm safety and storage devices. The bill had one hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee on Oct. 29.

HB 331 - REMOVE FIREARM SUPPRESSORS FROM DANGEROUS ORDNANCE (Sponsors: Kellie Deeter, Tex Fischer) To remove firearm mufflers and suppressors from the classification of dangerous ordnance. This bill is in limbo for now due to federal legislation that has rendered it moot. Look here for background.

HB 382 - ENACT THE SECOND AMENDMENT PROTECTION ACT (Sponsor: Tex Fischer) To enact the Second Amendment Protection Act to safeguard the right to keep and bear arms. This bill has not advanced since being referred to the House Public Safety Committee on Sept. 15.

HB 460 - ALLOW SPECIFIED OFFICALS TO CARRY A HANDGUN IN A GOVT. FACILITY (Sponsors: Thad Claggett, Bernard Willis) To allow members of the General Assembly, statewide elected officials, judges, and magistrates to carry a concealed handgun in a government facility of the state or a political subdivision. The bill was referred to the House Public Safety Committee on Oct. 1.

HB 495 - UPGRADE OHIO'S CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSE TO A CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE (Sponsors: Jennifer Gross, Josh Williams) To enact the Freedom to Carry Act to rename a concealed handgun license a concealed weapons license and to allow a concealed weapons licensee to carry a concealed deadly weapon other than an exclusive deadly weapon. The bill was referred to the House Public Safety Committee on Oct. 8.

HB 498 - ENACT THE OHIO SELF-DEFENSE ACT (Sponsors: Beth Lear, Monica Robb Blasdel) To modify the law regarding self-defense, which includes expanding castle doctrine, clarifying use of force to stop a forceable felony, creating a financial penalty for unjustified lawsuits or prosecutions, establishing a pretrial hearing to determine immunity from criminal prosecution, limiting police discretion and creating a legal shield before trial. The bill was referred to the House Public Safety Committee on Oct. 8.

SB 59 - EXEMPT FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION FROM SALES TAX (Sponsors: Al Cutrona, Tim Schaffer) To exempt from the sales and use tax the sale of certain firearms and ammunition and to authorize refundable tax credits for small arms and ammunition manufacturing projects. This bill has not advanced since one hearing was held Feb. 11 in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

SB 96 - AUTHORIZE A TAX CREDIT FOR HANDGUN TRAINING AND FIREARMS STORAGE (Sponsors: Hearcel Craig, Willis Blackshear) To authorize a nonrefundable income tax credit for the cost of handgun training and firearms storage and locking devices. This bill has not advanced since one hearing was held Feb. 25 in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

SB 214 - REMOVE FIREARM SUPPRESSORS FROM DANGEROUS ORDNANCE (Sponsor: Kyle Koehler) To remove firearm mufflers and suppressors from the classification of dangerous ordnance. As with HB 331, this bill is in limbo due to federal legislation that has rendered it moot.

SB 273 - PROVIDE CIVIL IMMUNITY FOR THE VOLUNTARY STORAGE OF FIREARMS (Sponsor: Kyle Koehler) To enact the Keep Them Safe Act to provide guidelines and civil immunity for the voluntary storage of firearms. The Senate passed the bill unanimously as Sub. SB 273 on Nov. 19. BFA's Sexton submitted testimony Oct. 15 and testified in person Oct. 29.

SB 278 - PERMIT MONETARY DAMAGES AGAINST CITIES WITH GUN CONTROL (Sponsor: Terry Johnson) To permit individuals to seek punitive or exemplary damages against municipal corporations that pass gun control measures. The bill had its second hearing Nov. 12 in the Senate Local Government Committee.

SB 279 - MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO PROHIBIT AN OFF-DUTY OFFICER FROM CARRYING A FIREARM (Sponsor: Terry Johnson) To prohibit a business, state agency, or political subdivision from discouraging or prohibiting a law enforcement officer from carrying a weapon while off duty. The bill has had three hearings in the Senate General Government Committee, the last one held Nov. 18. BFA's Sexton provided testimony during the second hearing Oct. 21.

SB 303 - ALLOW 18-21 YEAR OLDS TO PURCHASE A HANDGUN FROM A FEDERAL DEALER (Sponsor: Terry Johnson) To allow a person who is between eighteen and twenty-one years old to receive or purchase a handgun from a federally licensed firearms dealer. The bill was referred to the Senate General Government Committee on Nov. 19.

To see where BFA stands on all gun-related bills, including those we oppose, visit 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.