As to the current law, Ohio does not have a statewide gun registry, it has open carry, it has shall-issue for concealed carry, and it does not require mandatory background checks for private party gun sales. It ranks about midway (#28 of #50) in Guns and Ammo’s ranking of states by their commitment to defending residents’ self-defense rights.
This is how background checks will be done if this bill becomes law, according to the fact sheet:
When a private seller recognizes that a background
check is needed (such as in cases where the seller is
not familiar with the buyer’s background) the purchaser
will visit their county sheriff’s office for a state-level
background check. This background check would
instantly be conducted for a small fee.
Those whose background checks show that they
are legally permitted to purchase a gun will then
receive a “seller’s protection certificate” from DPS.
The document, paired with photo identification, can
be presented to the private seller to certify that the
purchaser is not prohibited from purchasing a gun.
Each certificate will be valid for 90 days and can be
used for multiple purchases…
Private
sellers who are able to provide the confirmation
number from the seller’s protection certificate will be
immune from any criminal liability related to the sale
of the gun…
It seems that this edges closer to making background checks mandatory: once this system is in place, that “mandatory/voluntary” switch could be flipped more easily. But the bill does not, at least currently, do that in its current form. Nor does it create a government database of firearm owners who buy from private parties.
It would be interesting to see the actual legislative text.
DeWine is taking a different approach to background checks and “red flag” legislation than what’s been offered by anti-gun activists. Unlike the lip service paid to the 2nd Amendment by those self-proclaimed “gun safety” advocates, this is a real attempt to come up with ideas that are constitutional, enforceable, and effective…
DeWine wants to double the penalty for transferring a gun to a prohibited person from 18 months to a 3-year prison sentence. I think gun owners would be on board with raising the penalty, but not when paired with lowering the legal standard to convict. As Maloney argues, it would be far to easy for overzealous prosecutors to claim that anybody who transferred a firearm without going through a background check was negligent. The intention is good, but the results could be less than ideal, according to Maloney.
Does anyone have a link to Gov. DeWine’s so-called “Strong Ohio bill?” I don’t see one at the linked website. This is a fact sheet but not legislative text: https://localtvwjw.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/strong-ohio-summary-final-_138835452-1.pdf
As to the current law, Ohio does not have a statewide gun registry, it has open carry, it has shall-issue for concealed carry, and it does not require mandatory background checks for private party gun sales. It ranks about midway (#28 of #50) in Guns and Ammo’s ranking of states by their commitment to defending residents’ self-defense rights.
This is how background checks will be done if this bill becomes law, according to the fact sheet:
It seems that this edges closer to making background checks mandatory: once this system is in place, that “mandatory/voluntary” switch could be flipped more easily. But the bill does not, at least currently, do that in its current form. Nor does it create a government database of firearm owners who buy from private parties.
It would be interesting to see the actual legislative text.
Here’s another take:
https://bearingarms.com/cam-e/2019/10/08/ohios-governor-pushing-public-safety-gun-control/
Could be better. Could be worse.