Gun Safety Laws: Ohio Gets 'D' Grade From Giffords Law Center

OHIO — Ohio's gun safety laws are among the weakest and most permissive in the nation, according to a new report from the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

Ohio received a "D" grade for its gun safety laws in the Center's Annual Gun Law Scorecard. In 2021, 1,762 Ohioans died from gun violence, a near-record-setting year, according to preliminary data from the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Capital Journal. From 2019 to 2020, the gun-related homicide rate rose 46 percent, the Giffords Law Center said.

In August 2021, Ohio implemented its version of a "Stand Your Ground" law. The legislation effectively eliminated the requirement for anyone to retreat from a dangerous situation before using a gun. Gov. Mike DeWine signed the law despite advocating for stricter firearms legislation in 2019, following a mass shooting in Dayton that killed 9 people and hurt dozens more.

The Ohio Senate and Ohio House failed to take up any of DeWine's proposals. He said he was "disappointed" by the General Assembly's reaction to his proposals, but still signed the Stand Your Ground Law.

“2021 was yet another year of crisis for our country. Too many communities had to reckon with the trauma and pain of surging gun violence, armed hate, and racial discrimination—all in the midst of the ongoing pandemic,” said Robyn Thomas, executive director of Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

The Giffords Law Center suggested Ohio take up the following gun control measures:

• Universal background checks
• Gun owner licensing
• Extreme risk protection orders
• Most domestic violence gun laws
• Assault weapons restrictions
• A large capacity magazine ban
• Firearm purchasing waiting periods
• A "strong" concealed carry law
• Concealed carry permit legislation
• Open carry regulations
• Child access prevention laws
• Community violence intervention funding

“What our Scorecard shows, year after year is that it is possible to take action to end this senseless violence. States with strong gun safety laws have fewer gun deaths — but illegal trafficking leaves residents of these states vulnerable. This progress must extend to every single state across the nation. We hope the Gun Law Scorecard will continue to serve as a resource for our elected officials who understand that getting a passing grade can be a matter of life and death," Thomas added.

Rob Sexton, the legislative director of The Buckeye Firearms Association — which describes itself as a "pro-gun" organization on its website — sent the following statement on Gifford's grades: "We reject their evaluation of Ohio in terms of gun laws. Ohio is increasingly moving toward finally recognizing what the constitution of Ohio says with regard to our rights to possess firearms. Our hope, of course, is that the legislature will take a major step in that direction by passing constitutional/permit-less carry legislation yet this session."

Sexton argued a study from the American College of Surgeons concluded there was "no statistically significant association between the liberalization of state level firearm carry legislation over the last 30 years and the rates of homicides or other violent crime."