Our NFA Law Shield members will soon have another state in which they can legally use a suppressor.
Governor John Kasich signed HB 234 (Allow Noise Suppressors While Hunting) on December 19. It will become effective after 90 days, or about March 20. The bill was supported by the American Suppressor Association.
In early December, the Ohio House of Representatives voted to pass HB 234 by a 69–16 margin. The bill, which was amended in the Senate Civil Justice committee, passed the Senate by a 24–6 vote.
Sponsored by Rep. Cheryl Grossman (R-23) and Rep. John Becker (R-65), the bill was originally drafted to repeal the prohibition on the use of legally possessed suppressors while hunting in Ohio.
Lawmakers thereafter consolidated a number of pro-gun amendments into the bill, including a “Shall Sign/Certify” provision which will require Chief Law Enforcement Officers (CLEOs) to process NFA applications in the same manner as CHL licenses. Once the law goes into effect, CLEOs will be required to sign applications unless the applicant is found to be a prohibited person.
At its signing, Ohio became the eighth state to enact “Shall Sign/Certify” legislation, joining Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Utah as the sixth state to do so this year. Ohio also became the 34th state to allow hunters to use legally possessed suppressors in the field for bird and wild quadrupeds.
Earlier this year, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana all enacted similar pro-suppressor hunting reform.
The post Ohio: Pro-Suppressor Law Becomes Effective in March appeared first on U.S. & Texas LawShield.