Ohio gun laws

The group pushing for a law to require federally licensed dealers and background checks for most gun purchases in Ohio has been rejected by the state attorney general.

Attorney General Dave Yost rejected the language that would be on the petitions that Ohioans for Gun Safety would circulate. The group would need 132,000 registered voters’ signatures to put the proposal first before lawmakers and then potentially to voters.

The state has joined two U.S. Supreme Court lawsuits dealing with gun ownership and regulations. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says one of the suits is about protecting the country from setting a dangerous precedent related to constitutional rights. 

Ohio is among 23 states fighting a law in New Jersey that requires a gunowner to prove a justifiable need to carry a firearm outside of their residence.

Attorney General Dave Yost likens this to a threat on any other constitutional right.

A gun owners’ group is lobbying to change a self-defense law passed in the lame duck session last year – saying it could make felons out of half a million Ohioans who own certain weapons. 

The law was changed to remove a “stand your ground” provision. But Chris Dorr with Ohio Gun Owners says a section that he says will outlaw many shotguns and rifles such as the AR-15 was overlooked.

“Gov. Kasich vetoed the ultimate gun control bill that, had he known what was going on, he definitely would not have vetoed it.”

In a surprise move, the Ohio Senate has stripped the “Stand Your Ground” provisions out of the “Stand Your Ground” bill. Opponents of the bill still have their issues with the legislation.

Richele O’Connor’s pro-gun regulation group, Moms Demand Action, spent hours sitting in committee to argue against the “Stand Your Ground” bill.

The Senate ended up keeping a “duty to retreat” in situations where a person feels threatened before using lethal force.

Gov. John Kasich has been urging lawmakers to pass a bill that would put a red-flag law in place to prevent people deemed dangerous by a court from buying guns. It would also ban bump stock attachments for guns and make other reforms. But despite the Republican governor's support, it appears it won’t be easy to get it passed through the GOP-dominated Legislature.

Ohio students are once again preparing to walk out of their classrooms in support of stricter gun laws.

The Friday walkouts, protests and marches will mark the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting, where 13 people were killed.

The Ohio Legislature is hearing testimony on dueling gun bills this week.

Democrats have previously introduced a ban on bump stocks and a so called “red flag” bill to allow seizure of guns from potentially violent people. But this new bill was sponsored by Republican Representative Mike Henne, and it does those things plus bans armor piercing ammo and requires better tracking of gun purchases. While the Democrat-backed bills haven’t moved, Henne’s bill was introduced Friday and has already had its first hearing. 

A new bill has been introduced in the Ohio Legislature that includes gun control measures backed by Gov.  John Kasich. This time, a Republican is sponsoring it. 

Republican Representative Mike Henne says the bill creates a “red flag” law that keeps violent people from getting guns.

“You know when the governor is right, he’s right. I don’t always agree with him but when he’s right, he’s right and he’s dead right on these issues.”

There are 22 bills related to guns pending in the Ohio Legislature right now. It’s hard to predict what might happen to them after the deadly Florida school shooting last week and Gov. John Kasich’s new willingness to embrace some gun regulations.

Republican Senate President Larry Obhof isn’t saying what will happen with gun bills in the days following the deaths of 17 people at a high school in Florida. But he says lawmakers are considering ways to beef up security in Ohio’s schools.

A bill that would allow licensed permit holders to carry concealed weapons into gun-free zones is on its way to the Senate after passing the House. 

Republican Rep. John Becker says the bill would help people who mistakenly carry a gun into the wrong place.

Under the measure, a concealed-carry permit holder can take a gun into a gun-free zone. They’re not breaking the law until someone notices the weapon and asks them to leave.

  President Obama’s executive orders on gun regulations have people on both sides of the issue asking about Ohio’s gun laws. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler has an overview.