Ohio Gun-lock Safety Bill Introduced

Ohio Representative Bill Patmon, last Tuesday, Feb. 5th., introduced a bill in the state's House "prohibiting any person from storing or leaving a firearm in the person's residence unless that firearm is secured in safe storage or rendered inoperable by a tamper-resistant lock or other safety device if the person knows, or reasonably should know, that a minor is able to gain access to the firearm and provide criminal penalties if a minor does gain unauthorized access to a firearm not so stored or rendered inoperable.”

Violation would constitute a misdemeanor of the third degree unless "a minor who gains access to the firearm as a result of such violation and without the lawful permission of the minor's parent, guardian, or custodian uses the firearm to cause personal injury or death, other than in self-defense," in which case it would then be a felony of the first degree."