Senator Cecil Thomas (D) introduces package of gun control bills; SB 62 could ban rubber bands

Senator Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) has introduced four gun control bills in the Ohio Senate.

SB 62 (Ban Rate Increasing Devices)

This bill seeks "to prohibit certain conduct regarding trigger cranks, bump-fire devices, and other items that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's rate of fire but do not convert it into an automatic firearm."

Since "accessories" that "function to accelerate the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm" are mentioned, it is no exaggeration to say that, to accomplish its goal, Sen. Thomas' bill would need to ban, among other things, rubber bands. The act of bump firing a semi-automatic rifle can also be done easily with fingers and belt loops, but as of yet it appears your hands and pants have avoided Sen.Thomas' attacks.

The bill states that "whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of 'illegal rate-of-fire acceleration conduct,' a felony of the fourth degree."

SB 63 ("Universal" Background Check Gun Registration)

This bill seeks "to require a firearm transfer to be made through a dealer, through a law enforcement agency, or pursuant to a specified exception, and to require a background check when a firearm is transferred."

In other words:

Want to give a gun to your great-grandson under Thomas' bill? Ask the government's permission.

Want to sell a gun to your brother? Ask the government's permission.

What to invite a friend over to your house show her how a gun operates because she is considering buying one herself? Ask the government's permission.

Want to sell a gun to a hunting buddy? Ask the government's permission.

Want to loan a gun to a co-worker whose abusive ex-husband just found out where she works? Ask the government's permission.

Want to teach a firearms safety class in a classroom space that is not located at a shooting range? Ask the government's permission.

Oh, and FFLs: you won't be allowed to charge more than $10 to conduct all this paperwork.

SB 64 (Abolish Second Amendment Rights for Military-Aged Adults 18-20)

This bill seeks "to raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to age 21 and to increase the penalty for improperly furnishing firearms to an underage person."

In other words, Sen. Thomas and the co-sponsors of this bill (Sens. Fedor, Yuko, Antonio, and Craig) all believe those who are old enough to vote, not to mention be able to fight and perhaps give their life for their country, should have their Second Amendment rights abolished.

If you are 18-20 years of age and live in one of these senators' districts, we hope you will remember what these Democrats think of you the next time you visit the polls.

SB 65 (Gun Show "Universal" Background Check Gun Registration)

This bill seeks "to regulate the transfer of firearms at a gun show," including those between two private parties selling their personal property.

Gun ban extremists continue to push for these laws despite the fact that the vast majority of criminals do not obtain their guns at gun shows. Consider these facts, as documented in the free Gun Facts download available on our website:

Fact: Only 0.7% of convicts bought their firearms at gun shows. 39.2% obtained them from illegal street dealers.

Fact: Fewer than 1% of “crime guns” were obtained at gun shows. This is a reduction from a 1997 study that found 2% of guns used in criminal offenses were purchased at gun shows.

Fact: The FBI concluded in one study that no firearms acquired at gun shows were used to kill police. “In contrast to media myth, none of the firearms in the study were obtained from gun shows.”

Fact: Only 5% of metropolitan police departments believe gun shows are a problem.

Fact: Only 3.5% of youthful offenders reported that they obtained their last handgun at a gun show.

Given the makeup of the Ohio Senate, Senator Thomas' bills aren't likely to see more than a single hearing. But the fact that the bills have been introduced at all gives powerful evidence that Ohio gun owners must remain eternally vigilant.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is co-founder of BFA-PAC, and served as its Vice Chairman for 15 years. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.