Politics

Ohio lawmakers lift restrictions on suppressors, short-barreled guns

Columbus, Ohio • November 10, 2026 • By Press Pass USA

The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, where lawmakers passed Senate Bill 214

File photo: Canary Media

Ohio gun owners could soon face fewer state restrictions on short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and firearm suppressors, after the Ohio House passed Senate Bill 214 on Tuesday, 68-27. The Senate concurred in the House's changes, 21-9, and the bill now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine for his consideration.

The bill removes short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and firearm suppressors from Ohio's list of "dangerous ordnances," a category that also includes items such as nitroglycerin, rocket launchers, grenades and torpedoes. It also eliminates state registration requirements that the federal government no longer enforces.

The change follows a series of federal moves. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced that individuals no longer had to wait for approval, register and pay a $200 tax on short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and suppressors, which are sometimes called silencers. President Donald Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill" eliminated the taxes on those items effective Jan. 1, and in August a federal judge in Texas ruled that the extra fees and registration were not required. The Trump administration did not appeal that decision.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson had urged lawmakers to clarify Ohio's firearm rules after the federal changes, warning that the old state law left gun owners in a trap even as Washington stepped back.

Supporters said the bill simply brings Ohio in line with federal policy. Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, said the bill was a victory on two fronts. "This is a win for gun owners. This is a win for public safety advocates," he said.

Ohioans will still have to pass a background check and fill out a standard firearm purchasing form to buy a suppressor or a short-barreled firearm from a licensed dealer. "It is a gun, and it should go through the same process that we go through today," said Sen. Kyle Koehler, R-Springfield, the bill's sponsor.

Some Democrats raised concerns about the gun show loophole, which allows private gun sales without background checks. "Background checks are an essential tool for keeping guns in the hands of safe, responsible, law-abiding owners," said Rep. Cecil Thomas, D-Cincinnati, during a committee hearing.

Thomas also argued that allowing suppressors is far different from permitting unregistered short-barreled rifles. "Some argue that suppressors are merely accessories that create no danger on their own," Thomas said. "The same cannot be said of sawed-off shotguns and short-barreled rifles. These are powerful weapons and their size makes them easier to conceal."

Other Democrats, including Rep. Mark Sigrist of Grove City, supported the changes. "Passing SB 214 today aligns Ohio law with these federal developments and restores key Second Amendment protections for responsible citizens across our state," he said in a statement.

The bill now sits on Gov. DeWine's desk, where he will decide whether to sign it into law.

Sources: The Columbus Dispatch, "Ohio lawmakers lift restrictions on suppressors, short-barreled guns" (Nov. 10, 2026); The Ohio Register, "Ohio General Assembly passes landmark bill lifting restrictions on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns" (Nov. 10, 2026).