Ohio law relaxing gun regulations goes into effect

Gov. John Kasich signed 40 bills Friday, including H234, which provided sweeping reform to the Buckeye State’s gun laws. (Photo: Cleveland.com)

A new Ohio law went into effect Monday that allows hunters to use suppressors, as well as relaxes several of the state’s requirements for the concealed carrying of handguns.

Signed into law late last year by Gov. John Kasich (R), HB 234 began as a measure meaning to repeal the state’s ban on hunting with suppressors, but later added were concealed carry provisions to reduce the number of hours required for training, relax the residency requirements for permit applicants and add a grace period for military service member renewals, as Guns.com previously reported.

The law now recognizes concealed-carry permits issued in other states, changes the definition of an “automatic weapon” and now only requires concealed carry applicants complete eight hours of training instead of 12 — some of which can be done online for the first time, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

“This is a very comprehensive bill,” Jim Irvine, chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association, told The Dispatch. “Over time, people will look back and see this as a watershed law that fixed a lot of little things.”

The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action applauded the bill, listing more than 230 of its accomplishments in an analysis.

Where the NRA was previously named, the law now requires firearms safety training and certification from a “national gun advocacy organization.”   

Not everyone sees the relaxing of concealed-carry regulation as a good thing and have expressed concerns that concealed carry reciprocity would mean convicted domestic abuser could bring their guns into Ohio.

”Some states like New Hampshire and Virginia have loopholes that allow convicted domestic abusers to acquire concealed carry permits.  Those dangerous people will now be able to carry loaded guns in Ohio,” said Michele Mueller, the Ohio Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action, in a statement.

Currently, Ohio law does not require a permit to purchase handguns rifles or shotguns, nor do the arms have to be registered.