ALERT: Ohio Supreme Court proposes rules to seize and destroy guns

*** CALL TO ACTION ***

In a shocking move, the Ohio Supreme Court has proposed amendments to the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio that will empower law enforcement to seize guns.

Many of these changes usurp the role of elected lawmakers and represent the most significant changes to Ohio law of our time.

The rule changes have been posted for public comment. We MUST convince the Justices to STOP this process NOW or there may be little hope to reverse the changes later on.

Deadline for public comment is Oct. 12.

To comment and demand that these proposed changes not be enacted, email objections to: [email protected] or [email protected]. Please be polite but firm. Include your full name and mailing address in any comments submitted by e-mail.

NOTE: We've been told some emails are bouncing. Here are other ways to contact the court:

Call:
Public Information Line: 614-387-9250
General Information Line: 614-387-9000

Send a printed letter to:
Diana Ramos-Reardon, Policy Counsel
Supreme Court of Ohio
65 South Front Street, 6th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3431

WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED

The Ohio Supreme Court has proposed rule changes that would disarm and force those subject to a civil protection order to surrender firearms, ammunition, and concealed handgun license to law enforcement. This seizure would take place even if there is no "sufficient nexus," specifically evidence that a firearm was threatened to be used, used, or brandished.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

Sean Maloney, a firearms law attorney, has written a comprehensive analysis of these changes.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ANALYSIS.

If passed and adopted as they are currently written, the amendments will empower authorities to:

• Seize guns, ammo, and concealed handgun license, requiring a separate legal action to be filed within 30 day for return of the property and no clear policy for returning or reinstating the license.
• Dispose of guns and ammo as unclaimed property upon expiration of the protection order.
• Create a registry of all firearms owned by the gun owner by repeatedly asking for an inventory of firearms owned or possessed throughout proposed forms.
• Infringe on the 2nd and 5th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
• Ignore the Ohio Constitution and court decisions on matters of civil protection orders.
• Usurp the power reserved exclusively for the Ohio General Assembly to create new laws.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

The Supreme Court drafts proposed rule changes. The proposed rule changes are put out for public comment.

Upon close of the public comment period, the DV Forms Committee will review the public comment, change forms based on comment (if in their view a change needs to occur), and then advance a final version of the DV Forms to the Court for a vote.

There should be a final draft after the first of the year.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE NEEDED IMMEDIATELY

Time is short. The deadline for public comment is Friday Oct. 12. We need to make our voices heard and STOP the Ohio Supreme Court from making these changes.

Use the bullet points above and our analysis to help craft your message. It must be in your own words to have full effect. It does not have to be a long message. Just focus on one point and ask the Justices to reconsider. Be respectful but firm.

Dean Rieck is Executive Director of Buckeye Firearms Association, a former competitive shooter, NRA Patron Member, #1 NRA Recruiter for 2013, business owner and partner with Second Call Defense.