Suppressors, short-barreled firearms covered by proposal
COLUMBUS — Ohio lawmakers approved legislation Tuesday that would ease state restrictions on firearm suppressors and short-barreled rifles and shotguns, advancing the measure to Gov. Mike DeWine for consideration.
Senate Bill 214 passed the House 69-27. The Senate then voted 21-9 to agree to House changes, completing legislative approval. The state’s legislative record does not yet list a governor’s signature.
The bill would remove suppressors and weapons defined in Ohio law as “sawed-off firearms” from the state’s classification of “dangerous ordnance,” a legislative analysis states.
Ohio generally prohibits possessing items in that category unless an exception applies. One exception covers owners whose items are registered in the federal National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Removing the classification would eliminate that state-law registration condition for these items. Other firearm laws would still apply.
The term “sawed-off firearm” does not necessarily mean someone physically shortened a gun. Ohio’s definition is based on barrel and overall length and can include firearms manufactured with shorter barrels.
Suppressors, sometimes called silencers, reduce the sound of gunfire. They do not make a firearm silent, said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Kyle Koehler, R-Springfield.
Koehler has argued that suppressors help protect the hearing of shooters and people nearby and should not be grouped with weapons such as grenades and rocket launchers.
The Senate’s earlier version focused on suppressors. A House committee expanded it Tuesday to include short-barreled rifles and shotguns before the full House voted, Cleveland.com reported.
The state proposal follows a change in federal enforcement announced Oct. 9.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it would stop enforcing certain federal approval and registration requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns.
That policy followed a federal court ruling concerning requirements under the National Firearms Act after Congress eliminated making and transfer taxes on those items. The federal government extended its enforcement policy beyond the parties covered by the ruling.
However, the agency said its policy does not override state or local restrictions. Ohio’s existing requirements therefore remain in place unless state law changes.
The federal change did not eliminate all firearm regulations.
Licensed dealers must still complete federal transaction forms, conduct background checks and maintain records. Restrictions on transferring firearms to people legally prohibited from possessing them also remain, the agency said.
Opponents have raised concerns about public safety and private sales.
Some Democratic lawmakers warned that the changes would allow private purchases of these items without background checks. Critics also argued that quieter gunfire could make it harder for police to respond to shootings, Cleveland.com reported.
Once the bill is presented to DeWine, he can sign or veto it or allow it to become law without his signature. Legislative passage alone does not change the rules. Ohio’s existing restrictions remain in effect until any new law takes effect.