By many accounts, Ohio’s gun laws are middle-of-the-road, as evidenced by the state’s reciprocity agreements with more than half of the other states across the country.
Guns and Ammo magazine ranked Ohio 35th in a list of best states for gun owners with a scorecard system that examined such criteria as open carry laws, whether modern sporting rifles were allowed, and whether or not laws were crafted around the Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground laws.
ALERT: Should Obama Have More Control Over Guns? Vote Now
Sharing a common trait with a majority of the other American states, Ohio holds the designation of a shall-issue carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) state.
As a shall-issue CCW state, Ohio requires residents undergo at least 12 hours of training before obtaining a CCW permit, which is similar to laws in other states.
In Ohio, permit-holders can open carry, except in a vehicle. The state does not have any restrictions, beyond those mentioned previously, for sporting rifles or magazine capacity.
VOTE NOW: Do You Support a Ban on All Fully Automatic Rifles?
Ohio’s laws pertaining to the Castle Doctrine are somewhat stiffer than those of other states. The Castle Doctrine is linked to the provisions in place for a person protecting himself or herself in cases of intrusion. In the name of self-defense, immunity can be granted in certain circumstances.
Similar to its middle-of-the-road approach toward gun legislation, Ohio ranks at the middle nationally in the number of gun-related deaths, sitting at No. 27 in a
2014 list by the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Compared nationally, the Law Center put Ohio at No. 19 when ranking the state's gun laws, giving it a D score.
This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.
URGENT: Do You Support Obama's Plans for Stricter Gun Control? Vote Now
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.