Ohio's legislature will still be in the hands of Republicans next session, but Governor-elect Amy Acton isn't likely to sign any pro-Second Amendment bills that get to her desk. The Democrat was backed by major gun control groups in her campaign, and will use her veto power to scuttle any bills enhancing or protecting the right to keep and bear arms.
So it's very good that Republicans are taking advantage of their lame duck session to make some improvements while they still can.
Current state law generally prohibits Ohioans from possessing any “dangerous ordnance,” a broad category that includes short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and gun suppressors or silencers, among others. There’s an exception, however, for gun owners who go through a special federal background check that requires a $200 payment. Senate Bill 214 would nix that requirement for federal registration.
A second background check process is needlessly duplicative, Republicans and gun advocates have argued. They also say the prohibitions themselves are unnecessary limits on people’s constitutional right to own guns.
Lorain County Republican Rep. Kellie Deeter said suppressors are tools for ear protection, rather than a stealth accessory. Mahoning Valley Republican Rep. Tex Fischer denied Democrats’ criticism that looser gun laws means more gun violence.
“This is in no way shape or form anything that’s going to make Ohio less safe,” Fischer said.
SB 214 even attracted support from a handful of Democrats, which is a good sign. Republicans will still have a veto-proof majority in the state Senate next session, but they'll need at least three Democrats for a veto-proof majority. That number could grow to as many as seven, depending on the outcome of several races that have to be officially decided.
I'd like to think that Ohio Republicans will be able to build a pro-Second Amendment coalition in the House that can withstand any vetoes from Acton, but that will likely depend on specific legislation and just how big the Republican majority ends up being. In the meantime, SB 214 is exactly the kind of legislation Republicans should be advancing while they still have a governor who's likely to sign it.
Suppressors aren't some exotic tool of assassins, despite depictions from Hollywood and the scaremongering from gun control groups. They're a practical way to reduce the risk of hearing damage, and there's no good reason for Ohio to treat them as inherently dangerous contraband. The same goes for short-barreled rifles and shotguns, which are no more inherently dangerous than their longer-barreled counterparts.
Unfortunately, that $200 tax could be reimposed and even increased by Democrats once they take control of Congress next year. I expect that will be one of the many budgetary items that the White House will object to, and hopefully the tax will remain zeroed out, but that's a fight that will take place in Washington, D.C., not Columbus, Ohio. Lawmakers in the Buckeye State have done what they can to bring state law in line with the current federal enforcement of the NFA, and now it's up to Governor Mike DeWine to follow suit.
His successor will have plenty of opportunities to demonstrate her hostility toward the Second Amendment once she's sworn in. For now, Republicans should make the most of their remaining time with a friendly governor and put as many meaningful protections for gun owners into law as possible. The next four years could be a long dry spell for Second Amendment legislation in Columbus, and there's no reason to leave any achievable victories on the table.