CHAPTER 137: WEAPONS CONTROL
Section
   137.01   Definitions
   137.02   Carrying concealed weapons
   137.03   Using weapons while intoxicated
   137.04   Improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle
   137.05   Discharging firearms
   137.06   Failure to secure dangerous ordnance
   137.07   Unlawful transactions in weapons
   137.08   Underage purchase of firearms or handguns
   137.09   Concealed handgun licenses: possession of a revoked or suspended license; additional restrictions; posting of signs prohibiting possession
   137.10   Defaced firearms
Cross-reference:
   Using weapons to endanger or damage aircraft, airport operations, see § 131.23
§ 137.01 DEFINITIONS.
   For the purpose of this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings ascribed to them respectively.
   ACTIVE DUTY. Has the same meaning as defined in 10 U.S.C. § 101.
   ALIEN REGISTRATION NUMBER. The number issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Agency that is located on the alien’s permanent resident card and may also be commonly referred to as the “USCIS number” or the “alien number”.
   AUTOMATIC FIREARM. Any firearm designed or specially adapted to fire a succession of cartridges with a single function of the trigger.
   BALLISTIC KNIFE. A knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.
   CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSE or LICENSE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN.
      (1)   Means, subject to division (2) of this definition, a license or temporary emergency license to carry a concealed handgun issued under R.C. § 2923.125 or R.C. § 2923.1213 or a license to carry a concealed handgun issued by another state with which the Attorney General has entered into a reciprocity agreement under R.C. § 109.69.
      (2)   A reference in any provision of this Code to a concealed handgun license issued under R.C. § 2923.125 or a license to carry a concealed handgun issued under R.C. § 2923.125 means only a license of the type that is specified in that section. A reference in any provision of this Code to a concealed handgun license issued under R.C. § 2923.1213, a license to carry a concealed handgun issued under R.C. § 2923.1213, or a license to carry a concealed handgun on a temporary emergency basis means only a license of the type that is specified in R.C. § 2923.1213. A reference in any provision of this Code to a concealed handgun license issued by another state or a license to carry a concealed handgun issued by another state means only a license issued by another state with which the Attorney General has entered into a reciprocity agreement under R.C. § 109.69.
   DANGEROUS ORDNANCE.
      (1)   Any of the following, except as provided in division (2) of this definition:
         (a)   Any automatic or sawed-off firearm, zip-gun, or ballistic knife;
         (b)   Any explosive device or incendiary device;
         (c)   Nitroglycerin, nitrocellulose, nitro-starch, PETN, cyclonite, TNT, picric acid, and other high explosives; amatol, tritonal, tetrytol, pentolite, pecretol, cyclotol, and other high explosive compositions; plastic explosives; dynamite, blasting gelatin, gelatin dynamite, sensitized ammonium nitrate, liquid-oxygen blasting explosives, blasting powder, and other blasting agents; and any other explosive substance having sufficient brisance or power to be particularly suitable for use as a military explosive, or for use in mining, quarrying, excavating, or demolitions;
         (d)   Any firearm, rocket launcher, mortar, artillery piece, grenade, mine, bomb, torpedo, or similar weapon, designed and manufactured for military purposes, and the ammunition therefor.
         (e)   Any firearm muffler or suppressor;
         (f)   Any combination of parts that is intended by the owner for use in converting any firearm or other device into a dangerous ordnance.
      (2)   DANGEROUS ORDNANCE. Does not include any of the following:
         (a)   Any firearm, including a military weapon and the ammunition for that weapon, and regardless of its actual age, that employs a percussion cap or other obsolete ignition system, or that is designed and safe for use only with black powder;
         (b)   Any pistol, rifle, or shotgun, designed or suitable for sporting purposes, including a military weapon as issued or as modified, and the ammunition for that weapon, unless the firearm is an automatic or sawed-off firearm;
         (c)   Any cannon or other artillery piece that, regardless of its actual age, is of a type in accepted use prior to 1887, has no mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or other system for absorbing recoil and returning the tube into battery without displacing the carriage, and is designed and safe for use only with black powder;
         (d)   Black powder, priming quills, and percussion caps possessed and lawfully used to fire a cannon of a type defined in division (2)(c) of this definition during displays, celebrations, organized matches or shoots, and target practice, and smokeless and black powder, primers, and percussion caps possessed and lawfully used as a propellant or ignition device in small-arms or small-arms ammunition;
         (e)   Dangerous ordnance that is inoperable or inert and cannot readily be rendered operable or activated, and that is kept as a trophy, souvenir, curio, or museum piece;
         (f)   Any device that is expressly excepted from the definition of a destructive device pursuant to the "Gun Control Act of 1968," 82 Stat. 1213, 18 U.S.C. 921 (A) (4), as amended and regulations issued under that act.
         (g)   Any firearm with an overall length of at least 26 inches that is approved for sale by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives under the "Gun Control Act of 1968", 82 Stat. 1213, 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3), but that is found by the Bureau not to be regulated under the "National Firearms Act", 68A Stat. 725 (1934), 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a).
   DEADLY WEAPON. Any instrument, device, or thing capable of inflicting death, and designed or specially adapted for use as a weapon, or possessed, carried, or used as a weapon.
   EXPLOSIVE. Any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion. The term includes all materials that have been classified as division 1.1, division 1.2, division 1.3, or division 1.4 explosives by the United States Department of Transportation in its regulations and includes but is not limited to dynamite, black powder, pellet powders, initiating explosives, blasting caps, electric blasting caps, safety fuses, fuse igniters, squibs, cordeau detonant fuses, instantaneous fuses, and igniter cords and igniters. The term does not include "fireworks," as defined in R.C. § 3743.01, or any substance or material otherwise meeting the definition of explosive set forth in this section that is manufactured, sold, possessed, transported, stored, or used in any activity described in R.C. § 3743.80, provided the activity is conducted in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including but not limited to the provisions of R.C. § 3743.80 and the rules of the Fire Marshal adopted pursuant to R.C. § 3737.82.
   EXPLOSIVE DEVICE. Any device designed or specially adapted to cause physical harm to persons or property by means of an explosion, and consisting of an explosive substance or agency and a means to detonate it. EXPLOSIVE DEVICE includes without limitation any bomb, any explosive demolition device, any blasting cap, or detonator containing an explosive charge, and any pressure vessel which has been knowingly tampered with or arranged so as to explode.
   FIREARM.
      (1)   Any deadly weapon capable of expelling or propelling one or more projectiles by the action of an explosive or combustible propellant. FIREARM includes an unloaded firearm, and any firearm that is inoperable but that can readily be rendered operable.
      (2)   When determining whether a firearm is capable of expelling or propelling one or more projectiles by the action of an explosive or combustible propellant, the trier of fact may rely upon circumstantial evidence, including, but not limited to, the representations and actions of the individual exercising control over the firearm.
   HANDGUN. Means any of the following:
      (1)   Any firearm that has a short stock and is designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand;
      (2)   Any combination of parts from which a firearm of a type described in division (1) of this definition can be assembled.
   INCENDIARY DEVICE. Any firebomb, and any device designed or specially adapted to cause physical harm to persons or property by means of fire, and consisting of an incendiary substance or agency and a means to ignite it.
   MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT FOR A TERM EXCEEDING ONE YEAR. The phrase does not include any of the following:
      (1)   Any federal or state offense pertaining to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, restraints of trade, or other similar offenses relating to the regulation of business practices;
      (2)   Any misdemeanor offense punishable by a term of imprisonment of two years or less.
   SAWED-OFF FIREARM. A shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches long, or a rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches long, or a shotgun or rifle less than 26 inches long overall. "Sawed-off firearm" does not include any firearm with an overall length of at least 26 inches that is approved for sale by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives under the "Gun Control Act of 1968", 82 Stat. 1213, 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3), but that is found by the Bureau not to be regulated under the "National Firearms Act", 68A Stat. 725 (1934), 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a).
   SEMI-AUTOMATIC FIREARM. Any firearm designed or specially adapted to fire a single cartridge and automatically chamber a succeeding cartridge ready to fire, with a single function of the trigger.
   VALID CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSE or VALID LICENSE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN. A concealed handgun license that is currently valid, that is not under a suspension under R.C. § 2923.128(A)(1), under R.C. § 2923.1213, or under a suspension provision of the state other than this state in which the license was issued, and that has not been revoked under R.C. § 2923.128(B)(1), under R.C. § 2923.1213, or under a revocation provision of the state other than this state in which the license was issued.
   ZIP-GUN. Any of the following:
      (1)   Any firearm of crude and extemporized manufacture;
      (2)   Any device, including without limitation a starter's pistol, not designed as a firearm, but that is specially adapted for use as a firearm;
      (3)   Any industrial tool, signaling device, or safety device, not designed as a firearm, but that as designed is capable of use as such, when possessed, carried, or used as a firearm.
(R.C. § 2923.11)
§ 137.02 CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS.
   (A)   No person shall knowingly carry or have, concealed on the person's person or concealed ready at hand, any of the following:
      (1)   A deadly weapon other than a handgun;
      (2)   A handgun other than a dangerous ordnance;
      (3)   A dangerous ordnance.
   (B)   No person who has been issued a concealed handgun license shall do any of the following:
      (1)   If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose and is carrying a concealed handgun, before or at the time a law enforcement officer asks if the person is carrying a concealed handgun, knowingly fail to disclose that the person then is carrying a concealed handgun, provided that it is not a violation of this division if the person fails to disclose that fact to an officer during the stop and the person already has notified another officer of that fact during the same stop;
      (2)   If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose and is carrying a concealed handgun, knowingly fail to keep the person’s hands in plain sight at any time after any law enforcement officer begins approaching the person while stopped and before the law enforcement officer leaves, unless the failure is pursuant to and in accordance with directions given by a law enforcement officer;
      (3)   If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose, if the person is carrying a concealed handgun, and if the person is approached by any law enforcement officer while stopped, knowingly remove or attempt to remove the loaded handgun from the holster, pocket, or other place in which the person is carrying it, knowingly grasp or hold the loaded handgun, or knowingly have contact with the loaded handgun by touching it with the person’s hands or fingers at any time after the law enforcement officer begins approaching and before the law enforcement officer leaves, unless the person removes, attempts to remove, grasps, holds, or has contact with the loaded handgun pursuant to and in accordance with directions given by the law enforcement officer;
      (4)   If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose and is carrying a concealed handgun, knowingly disregard or fail to comply with any lawful order of any law enforcement officer given while the person is stopped, including, but not limited to, a specific order to the person to keep the person’s hands in plain sight.
   (C)   (1)   This section does not apply to any of the following:
         (a)   An officer, agent, or employee of this or any other state or the United States, or to a law enforcement officer, who is authorized to carry concealed weapons or dangerous ordnance or is authorized to carry handguns and is acting within the scope of the officer’s, agent’s, or employee’s duties;
         (b)   Any person who is employed in this state, who is authorized to carry concealed weapons or dangerous ordnance or is authorized to carry handguns, and who is subject to and in compliance with the requirements of R.C. § 109.801, unless the appointing authority of the person has expressly specified that the exemption provided in this division (C)(1)(b) does not apply to the person;
         (c)   A person’s transportation or storage of a firearm, other than a firearm described in R.C. § 2923.11(G) to (M), in a motor vehicle for any lawful purpose if the firearm is not on the actor’s person;
         (d)   A person’s storage or possession of a firearm, other than a firearm described in R.C. § 2923.11(G) to (M), in the actor’s own home for any lawful purpose.
      (2)   Division (A)(2) of this section does not apply to any person who has been issued a concealed handgun license that is valid at the time of the alleged carrying or possession of a handgun or who, at the time of the alleged carrying or possession of a handgun, is an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States and is carrying a valid military identification card and documentation of successful completion of firearms training that meets or exceeds the training requirements described in R.C. § 2923.125(G)(1), unless the person knowingly is in a place described in R.C. § 2923.126(B).
   (D)   It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (A)(1) of this section of carrying or having control of a weapon other than a handgun and other than a dangerous ordnance, that the actor was not otherwise prohibited by law from having the weapon, and that any of the following applies:
      (1)   The weapon was carried or kept ready at hand by the actor for defensive purposes, while the actor was engaged in or was going to or from the actor's lawful business or occupation, which business or occupation was of a character or was necessarily carried on in a manner or at a time or place as to render the actor particularly susceptible to criminal attack, such as would justify a prudent person in going armed.
      (2)   The weapon was carried or kept ready at hand by the actor for defensive purposes, while the actor was engaged in a lawful activity and had reasonable cause to fear a criminal attack upon the actor, a member of the actor's family, or the actor's home, such as would justify a prudent person in going armed.
      (3)   The weapon was carried or kept ready at hand by the actor for any lawful purpose and while in the actor's own home.
   (E)   (1)   No person who is charged with a violation of this section shall be required to obtain a concealed handgun license as a condition for the dismissal of the charge.
      (2)   If a person is convicted of, was convicted of, pleads guilty to, or has pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B)(1) of this section as it existed prior to June 13, 2022, the person may file an application under R.C. § 2953.35 requesting the expungement of the record of conviction.
   (F)   (1)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of carrying concealed weapons. Except as otherwise provided in this division or divisions (F)(2), (F)(6), and (F)(7) of this section, carrying concealed weapons in violation of division (A) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Except as otherwise provided in this division or divisions (F)(2), (F)(6), and (F)(7) of this section, if the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section or any substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance or of any offense of violence, if the weapon involved is a firearm that is either loaded or for which the offender has ammunition ready at hand, or if the weapon involved is dangerous ordnance, carrying concealed weapons in violation of division (A) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law. Except as otherwise provided in divisions (F)(2), (F)(6), and (F)(7) of this section, if the offense is committed aboard an aircraft, or with purpose to carry a concealed weapon aboard an aircraft, regardless of the weapon involved, carrying concealed weapons in violation of division (A) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
      (2)   A person shall not be arrested for a violation of division (A)(2) of this section solely because the person does not promptly produce a valid concealed handgun license. If a person is arrested for a violation of division (A)(2) of this section and is convicted of or pleads guilty to the violation, the offender shall be punished as follows:
         (a)   The offender shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor if both of the following apply:
            1.   Within 10 days after the arrest, the offender presents a concealed handgun license, which license was valid at the time of the arrest to the law enforcement agency that employs the arresting officer.
            2.   At the time of the arrest, the offender was not knowingly in a place described in R.C. § 2923.126(B).
         (b)   The offender shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined $500 if all of the following apply:
            1.   The offender previously had been issued a concealed handgun license, and that license expired within the two years immediately preceding the arrest.
            2.   Within 45 days after the arrest, the offender presents a concealed handgun license to the law enforcement agency that employed the arresting officer, and the offender waives in writing the offender’s right to a speedy trial on the charge of the violation that is provided in R.C. § 2945.71.
            3.   At the time of the commission of the offense, the offender was not knowingly in a place described in R.C. § 2923.126(B).
         (c)   If divisions (F)(2)(a) and (F)(2)(b) and (F)(6) of this section do not apply, the offender shall be punished under division (F)(1) or (F)(7) of this section.
      (3)   Carrying concealed weapons in violation of division (B)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
      (4)   Carrying concealed weapons in violation of division (B)(2) or (B)(4) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B)(2) or (B)(4) of this section or any substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law. In addition to any other penalty or sanction imposed for a misdemeanor violation of division (B)(2) or (B)(4) of this section, the offender’s concealed handgun license shall be suspended pursuant to R.C. § 2923.128(A)(2).
      (5)   Carrying concealed weapons in violation of division (B)(3) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
      (6)   If a person being arrested for a violation of division (A)(2) of this section is an active duty m ember of the armed forces of the United States and is carrying a valid military identification card and documentation of successful completion of firearms training that meets or exceeds the training requirements described in R.C. § 2923.125(G)(1), and if at the time of the violation the person was not knowingly in a place described in R.C. 2923.126(B), the officer shall not arrest the person for a violation of that division. If the person is not able to promptly produce a valid military identification card and documentation of successful completion of firearms training that meets or exceeds the training requirements described in R.C. § 2923.125(G)(1) and if the person is not in a place described in R.C. § 2923.126(B), the officer shall issue a citation and the offender shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $500. The citation shall be automatically dismissed and the civil penalty shall not be assessed if both of the following apply:
         (a)   Within ten days after the issuance of the citation, the offender presents a valid military identification card and documentation of successful completion of firearms training that meets or exceeds the training requirements described in R.C. § 2923.125(G)(1), which were both valid at the time of the issuance of the citation to the law enforcement agency that employs the citing officer.
         (b)   At the time of the citation, the offender was not knowingly in a place described in R.C. § 2923.126(B).
      (7)   If a person being arrested for a violation of division (A)(2) of this section is knowingly in a place described in R.C. § 2923.126(B)(5) and is not authorized to carry a handgun or have a handgun concealed on the person’s person or concealed ready at hand under that division, the penalty shall be as follows:
         (a)   Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the person produces a valid concealed handgun license within ten days after the arrest and has not previously been convicted or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (A)(2) of this section or any substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, the person is guilty of a minor misdemeanor;
         (b)   Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the person has previously been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (A)(2) of this section or any substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree;
         (c)   Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the person has previously been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two violations of division (A)(2) of this section or any substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree;
         (d)   Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the person has previously been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more violations of division (A)(2) of this section or any substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, or convicted of or pleaded guilty to any offense of violence, if the weapon involved is a firearm that is either loaded or for which the offender has ammunition ready at hand, or if the weapon involved is a dangerous ordnance, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.
   (G)   If a law enforcement officer stops a person to question the person regarding a possible violation of this section, for a traffic stop, or for any other law enforcement purpose, if the person surrenders a firearm to the officer, either voluntarily or pursuant to a request or demand of the officer, and if the officer does not charge the person with a violation of this section or arrest the person for any offense, the person is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and the firearm is not contraband, the officer shall return the firearm to the person at the termination of the stop. If a court orders a law enforcement officer to return a firearm to a person pursuant to the requirement set forth in this division, R.C. § 2923.163(B) applies.
   (H)   For purposes of this section, "deadly weapon" or "weapon" does not include any knife, razor, or cutting instrument if the instrument was not used as a weapon.
(R.C. § 2923.12)
Statutory reference:
   Carrying concealed handguns, licensing through county sheriff, see R.C. §§ 2923.124 et seq.
   Concealed carry by a qualifying adult, see R.C. § 2923.111
   Conveyance or possession of deadly weapons or dangerous ordnance on school premises, felony offense, see R.C. § 2923.122
   Conveyance, possession, or control of deadly weapon or dangerous ordinance in a courthouse, felony offense, see R.C. § 2923.123
   Possession of deadly weapon while under detention, felony offense, see R.C. § 2923.131
   Possession of firearm in liquor permit premises, felony offense, see R.C. § 2923.121
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