Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey took to a press conference Friday to plead with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to veto Senate Bill 214, a measure that would remove short‑barrel rifles and silencers from Ohio’s list of “dangerous ordnance.” The sheriff argued the change would jeopardize public safety and hamper law‑enforcement efforts to investigate shootings.
Bill would treat short‑barrel rifles and silencers like standard firearms
Under the current law, short‑barrel rifles, sawed‑off shotguns and silencers are classified as dangerous ordnance, making their purchase subject to additional background checks and registration requirements. SB 214 would reclassify those items as ordinary firearms and accessories, allowing private sellers at gun shows to sell them directly to private buyers without the extra safeguards.
“I’m absolutely opposed to this legislation,” McGuffey said. “It makes it easier for dangerous weapons to enter the hands of the wrong people. It also creates a great deal of difficulty in knowing who purchased these weapons.”
Impact on police tools and community safety
McGuffey highlighted a specific concern for the ShotSpotter acoustic detection system that the county has deployed in Cincinnati. The system relies on the sound of gunfire to alert officers, and silencers could mask those sounds, making it harder to pinpoint shooting locations.
“It’s going to be challenging for ShotSpotters to hear these muffled gunshots,” she warned. “It’s my responsibility as the sheriff of Hamilton County to support policies that keep our communities safe and give law‑enforcement officers the tools they need.”
Legislative intent and partisan response
State Senator Kyle Koehler (R‑Springfield), the bill’s sponsor, defended the change as a simple alignment with recent federal rule adjustments that allow short‑barrel rifles and silencers to be purchased without ATF approval.
“Senate Bill 214 changes nothing for criminals, who will continue to ignore our gun laws,” Koehler told WLWT. “These updates simply align state laws with new federal guidelines—ensuring that law‑abiding gun owners aren’t inadvertently turned into felons just for trying to comply with both state and federal law.”
Opposition from local officials and community leaders
Democratic State Rep. Karen Brownlee (D‑Symmes Township) and Cincinnati City Councilmember Anna Albi joined McGuffey in opposing the bill. Brownlee argued the legislation goes beyond what federal law requires and shows the General Assembly out of touch with Ohio families.
“We exist in this never‑ending cycle of firearm violence in the news. Elected officials say their prayers, they give us thoughts, but they don’t take action to change the policies that enabled these shootings,” Brownlee said.
Albi expressed frustration on behalf of city residents who repeatedly call for stronger gun safety measures.
“From the city’s perspective, I’m absolutely outraged,” Albi said. “Our residents want the violence in our streets to stop, yet the statehouse keeps moving bills that make our residents less safe.”
Next steps
Ohio law currently makes possession of any dangerous ordnance without authorization a fifth‑degree felony. While the bill has cleared the General Assembly, Governor DeWine has not yet announced whether he will sign or veto it. Even if he vetoes, Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers, meaning a veto could be overridden.
The debate underscores a broader tension in Ohio between expanding gun‑owner rights and preserving tools that help law‑enforcement protect neighborhoods. Hamilton County officials say the outcome will have direct consequences for public‑safety operations across the region.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
