Two Ohio Republican state senators have re-introduced legislation that aims to prohibit fees and insurance requirements from owning a gun.
Senate Bill (SB) 58, sponsored by State Senators Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), tries to protect Ohio’s Second Amendment rights by ensuring that no Ohioan will be required to possess or purchase firearm liability insurance or pay a fee for the possession of a firearm, parts, components, ammunition, or a knife.
According to Gavarone (pictured above, left), Ohio’s Second Amendment rights should not have financial strings attached.
“Our God-given rights, like those in the Bill of Rights, do not and should not come with strings attached to exercise them – particularly financial ones,” Gavarone said.
Lawmakers nationwide have passed various laws to limit the right to keep and bear arms. In California, the San Jose City Council voted last year to approve a rule that would make it necessary for all gun owners to pay an annual fee and have liability insurance.
In December, the governor of New Jersey signed a law requiring the purchase of handgun liability insurance. In addition to the new statute requiring the purchase of this insurance, permit applicants must now obtain four non-relative endorsements, undergo a law enforcement interview, pay $200 (up from $50), and carry proof of liability insurance when carrying a concealed firearm.
The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution states: “The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Additionally, the Ohio Constitution addresses the same sentiment: “The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security.”
According to Johnson (pictured above, right), this legislation will help ensure that such infringements on the Second Amendment do not happen in Ohio.
“The Second Amendment and the Ohio Constitution protect our God-given right to defend our lives and the lives of those we love. Measures such as those in California and New Jersey infringe on this constitutional right by putting undue burden and obstacles in the way of law-abiding gun owners,” Johnson said.
The Buckeye Firearms Association applauded Senators Johnson and Gavarone for the legislation.
“Senate Bill 58 builds a defense of firearms rights before they are infringed. Seeing the bad examples in other states and even here in Ohio where our big cities openly defy the law to infringe on the rights of people to protect themselves should compel legislators to prevent this type of attack from ever happening here. That is exactly what this bill does,” Rob Sexton Legislative Affairs Director for the Buckeye Firearms Association said.
The Senators introduced the legislation as SB 293 in the last General Assembly, but it stalled in the Veterans and Public Safety Committee.
The legislation has passed in the Ohio Senate and now moves on for consideration in the Ohio House.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Theresa Gavarone” by The Ohio Senate. Photo “Terry Johnson” by The Ohio House of Representatives. Background Photo “Ohio Statehouse” by Ɱ. CC BY-SA 4.0.
