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Ohio lawmakers have sent a major firearms reform bill to Gov. Mike DeWine, putting suppressors, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns one signature away from losing the state’s “dangerous ordnance” label.
The Ohio House passed Senate Bill 214 on Nov. 10, followed by a Senate vote concurring with the House amendments. The bill now awaits action from DeWine.
What SB 214 Actually Does
The measure removes suppressors, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns from the same legal category Ohio uses for automatic firearms, explosives, grenades, rocket launchers, bombs and other military ordnance.
That distinction matters because possessing an item classified as dangerous ordnance without a qualifying exemption can currently result in a fifth-degree felony.
Ohio law uses the more dramatic term “sawed-off firearm,” but its definition includes any rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches, any shotgun with a barrel shorter than 18 inches or either firearm measuring less than 26 inches overall.
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SB 214 removes those firearms and suppressors from that category, allowing Ohioans to acquire, possess, carry and use them without relying on the state’s current dangerous-ordnance exemptions.
The change does not turn a suppressor, SBR or SBS into an unregulated piece of hardware. Purchases from federally licensed dealers would still require an ATF Form 4473 and background check, just like other firearms. Prohibited persons would remain prohibited from buying or possessing them.
In other words, the bill stops Ohio from treating a short rifle or hearing-protection device like a stick of dynamite.
ASA Backs the Bill
The American Suppressor Association supports SB 214 and lists it as having passed both chambers before being sent to DeWine on Nov. 10.
ASA Executive Director Knox Williams also testified in favor of the measure before the House Public Safety Committee in June. The group argued that Ohio needed to separate its suppressor law from the federal National Firearms Act registration system.
That became increasingly important after federal changes eliminated the $200 transfer tax and ATF announced it would no longer enforce the previous approval and registration requirements. Without an Ohio fix, suppressor owners could have faced problems because state law tied lawful possession to a federal registration process that was no longer being enforced.
ASA says suppressors generally reduce a firearm’s sound signature by approximately 20 to 35 decibels. They do not make gunshots silent, but they can reduce shooters’ exposure to permanent hearing damage. The organization also notes that more than five million suppressors are in circulation nationwide.
House Amendments Spark Opposition
The original Senate version focused only on suppressors and passed 31-1 in March. The House later expanded the bill to include short-barreled rifles and shotguns.
That addition cost the bill some Democratic support. Sen. Bill DeMora said he supported the suppressor provisions but believed the House amendments “went too far.” The amended version ultimately cleared the Senate on a 21-9 vote.
Supporters countered that SBRs and SBSs are still firearms, not grenades, explosives or rocket launchers—and should be regulated accordingly.
The final decision now belongs to DeWine. If he signs SB 214, Ohio will join the growing list of states updating their laws to reflect the rapidly changing federal landscape surrounding suppressors and short-barreled firearms.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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