Buckeye Reporter

The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving the city of Columbus' unlawful gun regulations. The case, John Doe et al v. City of Columbus et al, focuses on the city's illegal gun ordinances passed in fall 2022.

City attorney Zach Klein requested the high court to review the case after a lawsuit challenged the city's ordinances, which violate Ohio's preemption law (ORC 9.68). The ordinances include a ban on magazines with more than 30 rounds and a requirement for firearms to be stored to prevent children from accessing them accidentally.

The Buckeye Institute sought a temporary injunction in Delaware County, leading to a rebuke from Judge David M. Gormley for the city's overreach. The Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals reinstated the preliminary injunction, halting the enforcement of Columbus' restrictions.

Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy accepted the case, which will determine whether the city's ordinances should remain blocked during the legal challenge. Dean Rieck, Executive Director of the Buckeye Firearms Association, expressed confidence in the court's prior rulings on preemption laws, stating, "The Ohio Supreme Court has already ruled on preemption, which is the law that says cities can't pass their own gun control laws. Period."

Rieck criticized Columbus for its persistence, suggesting political motivations behind their actions. He remarked, "The only reason I can imagine Columbus continues to pursue this issue is the hope that the court will flip Democrat in November and they may get a different ruling on preemption. That's not likely."

The outcome of this case holds significant implications for gun regulations in Ohio, with the Ohio Supreme Court set to weigh in on the legality of Columbus' ordinances.