Ohio Lawmakers Send SB 214 to Gov. DeWine to Remove Weapons From List

State lawmakers have sent to Gov. Mike DeWine Senate Bill 214, a measure that removes short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns from a list of weapons that are heavily restricted in Ohio and require registration and special licenses.

The legislation represents an expansion from the original scope of the proposal, which initially sought only to remove suppressors from the state’s dangerous ordnance list. The updated measure cleared the House on a 69-27 vote, with six Democrats joining Republicans.

“This is a win for gun owners. This is a win for public safety advocates. This is in no way, shape or form anything that is going to make Ohio streets less safe.”

said Fischer on the House floor. He added that the bill allows Ohioans to exercise the same Second Amendment rights that neighboring states are able to.

SB 214 is on Governor DeWine's desk. He's signed every pro-gun bill we've sent him. Take 30 seconds and email him to sign this one too:https://t.co/CRcqVoBI0s pic.twitter.com/MQshv8o2De

— Post by @OhioGunOwners on X

“We are debating how to make it more accessible for guns in Ohio. Where are our priorities?”

said Rep. Darnell Brewer (D-Cleveland) on the floor. Brewer stated he was not attacking responsible gun owners or the Second Amendment, but questioned why the legislature focused on specific laws while children continue to face gun violence.

In the Senate, the bill’s sponsor Sen. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield) defended the classification of the hardware. Koehler argued that the items function as standard firearms rather than prohibited destructive devices.

SB 214 is headed to Governor DeWine! House 69 to 27, Senate 21 to 9, and we watched it from the gallery. Suppressors, SBRs and SBSs come off Ohio's dangerous ordnance list. It's not law until he signs it. Tell him to sign SB 214: https://t.co/BJzbSka9x3 pic.twitter.com/7g2tauhRCf

— Post by @OhioGunOwners on X

“It is indeed not anything more than a firearm. It is not a dangerous ordnance. It’s not a missile. It’s not a torpedo. It’s not nitroglycerin. It is a gun.”

Koehler said. He maintained that the items should follow the same process that we use today to buy a firearm.

The legislation passed the Senate on a 21-9 party line vote following the House amendments. The vote stood in contrast to the nearly unanimous 31-1 approval the original suppressor-only version received in March.

Guns are displayed at a gun store in Columbus, Ohio — Photo: wvxu.org

Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) supported the initial March version aimed at protecting hunters from a potentially hearing loss, but opposed the final version. He said the House additions altered the original intent by allowing shotguns to be concealed and handled differently.

Gov. Mike DeWine now holds the legislation for final action.