Smith, Craig Testify on Gun Safety Legislation

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) and state Senator Kent Smith (D-Euclid) gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 235, which would ban the sale and use of devices that accelerate a firearm's rate of fire. Senator Craig also gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 238, which would provide gun owners with options to safely store their firearms. 

“The Ohio General Assembly can and must take meaningful, responsible steps to reduce the risk of mass gun violence,” said Craig. “Bump stocks enabled the largest and deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, and Ohio must take this commonsense step to reduce gun violence and keep Ohio communities safe.”

S.B. 235 would prohibit the import, manufacture, or sale of devices that increase a firearm’s rate of fire, such as bump stocks, trigger cranks, and similar devices. These devices allow semi-automatic firearms to fire faster and closer to the rate of machine guns, which are illegal to own in the United States. There are 18 other states that already have laws prohibiting bump stocks.

“The need for this legislation arose from the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017 where a bump stock was used to fire more than 1,000 rounds in 11 minutes onto a crowd of approximately 22,000. Nearly 60 people were killed and more than 700 were wounded.” said Smith. “When a bump stock is used, a semi-automatic weapon can shoot like a machine gun.” 

S.B. 238 gives gun owners the option to store their firearms with regulated gun dealers or shooting range owners outside of the home. This legislation encourages responsible firearm ownership by establishing legal protections for federally licensed firearms dealers who voluntarily participate in firearm hold agreements, a growing suicide prevention strategy.

“By removing legal barriers to these voluntary arrangements, this bill promotes responsible, life-saving decision-making while preserving individual rights and business discretion,” said Craig. “It aligns with broader efforts to reduce suicide by firearm, particularly among veterans, first responders, youth, and others at risk, without infringing on Second Amendment protections.”

S.B 235 and S.B. 238 await further hearings in the Armed Services, Veteran Affairs, and Public Safety Committee.