To amend sections 2923.13 and 2923.14 of the Revised Code to prohibit a person who is charged with or has been convicted of first degree misdemeanor domestic violence from possessing a firearm or dangerous ordnance.
Summary
SB 98 would expand Ohio’s firearms disability law to cover people who are either charged with, or have been convicted of, first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence. Under current law, section 2923.13 already prohibits certain categories of people from possessing firearms or dangerous ordnance, including felons, fugitives, people with certain drug-related convictions, those with specified mental health or substance-use conditions, and people convicted of first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence. This bill would add the new category of being charged with first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence, making firearm possession unlawful before a conviction in those cases.
The bill also makes a conforming change to Ohio’s relief-from-disability statute, section 2923.14, which allows some prohibited persons to petition a court for restoration of firearm rights. The proposal would preserve that relief process generally, but the new disability category would be incorporated into the broader statutory scheme governing who may possess firearms and when those rights may be restored or revoked. In practical terms, the bill would affect people accused of domestic violence, law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and firearm owners subject to domestic-violence-related charges.
Impact
SB 98 would amend Revised Code sections 2923.13 and 2923.14 to broaden the state’s firearm prohibition framework. The most significant legal change is that a person charged with first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence would be treated as under a weapons disability, not just someone convicted of that offense. That would expose a charged person to a third-degree felony for knowingly acquiring, having, carrying, or using a firearm or dangerous ordnance while the charge is pending. The bill also interacts with the existing relief-from-disability process by keeping the restoration mechanism in place for covered persons, subject to the statute’s existing limits and conditions.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the overall sentiment appears supportive of stronger domestic-violence firearm restrictions. The bill is sponsored by Senators Craig and Weinstein and is framed as a public-safety measure aimed at preventing firearm access by people involved in domestic violence cases. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented floor debate or recorded opposition in the supplied materials.
Contention
The main point of contention is the bill’s expansion from convicted offenders to people merely charged with first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence. Supporters are likely to view this as a preventive measure to reduce risk in volatile domestic-violence situations, while critics may argue that imposing a firearm disability before conviction raises due-process concerns and could affect individuals who are later found not guilty or whose charges are dismissed. The bill text itself does not include any explicit exceptions or temporary relief for pending charges, which may be a focal point for debate.