(a) No minor shall purchase, own, possess, receive, have on or about his person, or in any motor vehicle owned or operated by him, or use any firearm.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that any of the following apply:
(1) The firearm was carried or in the possession of a minor, sixteen or seventeen years of age, who was going to or from hunting, who possesses a valid hunting license, during the inclusive dates of any hunting season in the State of Ohio. This affirmative defense shall only apply to firearms which are permissible in Ohio for purposes of lawful hunting and which have a minimum barrel length of five inches.
(2) The firearm was carried or in the possession of a minor, sixteen or seventeen years of age, who was travailing to or from an approved shooting range and who is a listed member of an approved shooting club, previously registered with the Chief of Police. To establish this affirmative defense, a parent, guardian or custodian of a minor shall in advance register the name of the minor with the Chief of Police, identifying both the name of the gun club and name of the firing range. This affirmative defense shall only apply to possession of a rifle or target practice handgun (which has a minimum barrel length of five inches) regularly used for marksmanship competition.
(3) The firearm was carried or in the possession of a minor, for any lawful purposes, under the supervision or control of a responsible adult who is at least twenty-one years of age.
Provided, however, as applied to subsections (b)(1), (b)(2) and (b)(3) hereof, that: a minor who is transporting the firearm in a motor vehicle shall comply with the provisions of Section 549.04(c) or a minor who is transporting the firearm outside of a motor vehicle shall have the firearm contained in a case designed for such purpose or in plain sight with the action open or the weapon stripped.
(c) No person being the parent, guardian, custodian or other adult person having custody or control of any minor, shall allow or permit such minor from engaging in the conduct proscribed by subsection (a) hereof. It shall be an affirmative defense to this subsection that the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court has been initiated by the parent or legal guardian against the minor over whom the parent or legal guardian has care.
(d) Any person who violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of an act of unruliness.
(e) Any parent, guardian, custodian or other adult person having the care or custody of a minor who violates subsection (c) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(Ord. 29-92. Passed 3-2-92.)