The Ohio
Gun Laws
The United States government has made it legal for its citizens to possess firearms. The government, through its constitution also gives the various States the mandate to enact their own laws, provided they conform to the supreme law of the land. The Ohio gun laws were, therefore, specially enacted to regulate gun use within the State.
The Ohio gun laws do not have any requirements for registration and licensing of firearms. There is, therefore, no need to register or license handguns, rifles and shotguns in Ohio. These weapons can be purchased and owned freely. There is, however, a restriction on the carrying of handguns within the State. In other words, it is unlawful to carry a handgun without a valid permit. A hand gun has been defined to be a weapon, which can easily be discharged with one hand. It is, therefore, not heavy and is easy to conceal.
Ohio gun laws are to the effect that, it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon in a public place. A concealed weapon is one that cannot be seen, but is easily reachable. A concealed firearm is, therefore, one that cannot be perceived another person. To carry a concealed weapon, you need a valid permit to do so. An application for the permit is made in written form to the local sheriff’s office in your jurisdiction. The application form used is the one which was prescribed by the Ohio peace officers’ training commission. However, it is necessary to note that, carrying a concealed weapon in the comfort of your home or private vehicle is not unlawful.
It is essential to note that, certain persons are exempt from the concealed firearms law, and these include law enforcement personnel and Federal agents. These must, however, do so only in the course of performing their duties.
The application for a permit to carry a concealed weapon should be accompanied with a recent colored passport size photograph and a set of your fingertips. In addition, you are also supposed to attach a certificate, which acts as proof of your competence, to carry and operate a firearm. Once issued, the permit is only valid for five years, after which you are supposed to renew it.
Ohio gun laws state that, it is illegal to sell, or transfer possession of firearms to persons who are below eighteen, and those who are under the influence of alcohol. This restriction is put in place, because there is a belief that such persons are not able to comprehend and thus cannot be responsible for their actions.
Adults in the States of Kentucky, Michigan and Pennsylvania can purchase firearms in Ohio, and alternatively, Ohio residents can also purchase guns in the above mentioned States. It is, however, crucial to note that, these purchases are only meant to be foe lawful purposes.
It is, noted that, the Ohio gun laws are relatively lenient in as far as possession and purchase of guns is concerned. They, however, place restrictions on certain people, who are considered potentially harmful to themselves and the community.
