Ohio Sen. Kris Jordan (R) introduces bill that would bar new local/federal/ international gun bans from being enforced in Ohio

by Chad D. Baus

WTVG (ABC Toledo) is reporting that State Senator Kris Jordan (R-19th District) has introduced Senate Bill 36, legislation that he says would keep Washington from running wild over the constitutional right to own a gun.

From the article:

The president's 23-point gun control plan includes items such as how to do a background check, how states can share information if a gun is lost or stolen, and how to make sure dangerous people don't get guns.

But gun supporters fear the plan will eventually lead to confiscating *all guns*....

So Tuesday, Ohio State Senator Kris Jordan introduced SB- 36 which aims to prohibit any law officer from enforcing "a firearm registration requirement or firearm ban".

Jordan told 13abc reporter Bill Hormann, "I'm letting the government know we're doing what we can, here in Ohio, to keep the government from going wild."

Jordan's bill would prevent the registration or ban of *any firearm*… including assault weapons. Jordan also believes his bill protects law officers from violating their Constitutional oaths by confiscating legally owned weapons from law abiding citizens the officers are sworn to protect.

...Jordan's bill would also prohibit towns like Toledo from creating a firearm registry.

Ironically, about 20-years ago, Toledo tried to create a Handgun Owners Card but the city was told that was unconstitutional.

Earlier in February, Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman, sent a letter to President Obama saying "any edict, regulation, or so-called federal law which infringes on the right of the citizens of Hancock County, Ohio to keep and bear arms for their security will not be tolerated, recognized or enforced by me or my office."

Following is the entire text of the legislation:

130th General Assembly
Regular Session
2013-2014
S. B. No. 36

Senator Jordan
Cosponsor: Senator Schaffer

A BILL

To enact sections 5502.23 and 5502.231 of the Revised Code to prohibit any agency and its employees and agents from seizing or authorizing the seizure of any firearm from any person lawfully in possession or control of the firearm except when a law enforcement officer reasonably believes the immediate seizure of the firearm is necessary for the safety of the officer or another person or to preserve the firearm as evidence, to prohibit the establishment of a firearm registry, and to prohibit law enforcement officers and international agents from enforcing a firearms registration requirement or firearm ban.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 5502.23 and 5502.231 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 5502.23. (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no agency, or employee or agent of an agency, shall seize or authorize the seizure of any firearm from any person who is lawfully in possession or control of a firearm.

(B)(1) A law enforcement officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of the officer's duties may seize a firearm in the possession, or under the control, of any person if the law enforcement officer reasonably believes the immediate seizure of the firearm is necessary for the safety of the law enforcement officer or another individual. The law enforcement officer shall return the firearm to the person from whom it was seized if the person is not arrested, the firearm is not seized under division (B)(2) of this section, and the reason for the seizure of the firearm no longer exists.

(2) A law enforcement officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of the officer's duties may seize a firearm when the seizure is necessary to preserve the firearm as evidence, or for the investigation, of a criminal offense.

(C) As used in this section, "firearm" has the same meaning as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 5502.231. (A) No law enforcement officer, federal law enforcement officer, international agent, or other person shall enforce or attempt to enforce a firearm registration requirement or firearm ban in any statute or rule of this state or the United States or any ordinance, resolution, or rule of a political subdivision, unless the registration requirement or ban is in effect prior to the effective date of this section.

(B) No political subdivision shall enact or adopt any ordinance, resolution, or rule that requires a person to register a firearm or establishes a firearm registry.

(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of unlawful enforcement of a firearm registration requirement or firearm ban, a felony of the first degree.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Federal law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as in section 2921.51 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Firearm" has the same meaning as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Firearm ban" means any ban or prohibition on a person's possession of a firearm that is not based on the status or condition of the person or limited to the possession of a firearm in a school safety zone, courthouse, or other designated location.

(4) "Political subdivision" has the same meaning as in section 2921.421 of the Revised Code.

The text can also be found on the General Assembly's website.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.

Media Coverage:
WSAZ (NBC Huntington/Charleston, WV) - Ohio State Senator Introduces Anti-Gun Control Legislation