Some Ohio residents with nonviolent felony convictions may have a faster path to regaining their rights, including gun ownership, according to an April 22 article. The Ohio Governor’s Expedited Pardon Project, launched by Governor Mike DeWine in December 2019, aims to speed up the clemency process for those who have shown rehabilitation after serving their sentences.
The issue is significant because felony convictions can result in long-term barriers and loss of rights. The new program seeks to help reformed ex-offenders avoid years-long waits that discouraged many from applying for pardons.
“I believe those who’ve committed certain felony offenses in the past and have gone on to lead good lives deserve better,” DeWine said. “They should not pay for their mistakes their entire lives.” His office has partnered with several law schools and the Ohio Justice & Policy Center to improve access and awareness of the expedited application process. As of February 2, more than 1,600 applications had been received from across Ohio and other states.
One applicant, Aaron Ward, shared his experience: “I love to hunt but with my record, I was only allowed to use a bow,” Ward said. “When friends would ask me, ‘Did you shoot any deer today?’ I would always have to make an excuse because I didn’t want them to know why I couldn’t use a gun.” After over two decades without further trouble with the law, Ward was granted an expedited pardon in 2021. “I got a Kentucky hunting license,” he said. “I’ve had fresh fish out of a lake and now I’m waiting on winter to get here and see if I can put a little bit of deer in my freezer. My life’s changing.”
Applicants must meet criteria such as having completed their sentence at least ten years ago without additional crimes during that period (excluding minor traffic violations), making efforts toward restitution or fines payment, maintaining employment or providing reasons for unemployment, performing community service or volunteer work, and not being convicted of disqualifying offenses like homicide or sex crimes.
In addition to these developments, House Bill 5 is under consideration by state lawmakers. The bill would clarify expungement processes for low-level offenders while restoring rights—including firearm ownership—for those who have paid their debt but continue living productive lives outside prison walls. Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) supports this measure; BFA’s Rob Sexton told legislators: “House Bill 5 clarifies the process for sealing and expungement for low level offenders… It solves the issue for those who no longer live in Ohio… The framers of our Constitutions did not envision a lifetime of lost Constitutional protections for low level offenses.” According to the official website, Buckeye Firearms Association advocates for individuals’ right to own firearms legally—including self-defense and recreation—and delivers alerts on laws affecting gun rights while focusing its grassroots efforts within Ohio (https://www.buckeyefirearms.org).
Buckeye Firearms Association also provides updates on legislation related to firearms as well as training information through its platform (https://www.buckeyefirearms.org).
