(A) Discharge of firearms on or near prohibited premises. No person shall do any of the following:
(1) Without permission from the proper officials and subject to division (B)(1) of this section, discharge a firearm upon or over a cemetery or within 100 yards of a cemetery;
(2) Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, discharge of a firearm on a lawn, park, pleasure ground, orchard, or other ground appurtenant to a schoolhouse, church, or inhabited dwelling, the property of another, or a charitable institution;
(3) Discharge a firearm upon or over a public road or highway.
(B) (1) Division (A)(1) of this section does not apply to a person who while on the person's own land, discharges a firearm.
(2) Division (A)(2) of this section does not apply to a person who owns any type of property described in that division and who, while on the person's own enclosure, discharges a firearm.
(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises. A violation of division (A)(1) or (A)(2) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. A violation of division (A)(3) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(R.C. § 2923.162)
(D) (1) Hunting near township park. No person shall hunt, shoot, or kill game within ½ mile of a township park unless the Board of Township Park Commissioners has granted permission to kill game not desired within the limits prohibited by this division.
(R.C. § 3773.06)
(2) Whoever violates division (D)(1) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(R.C. § 3773.99(A))
(E) Exceptions. This section shall not prohibit the firing of a military salute or the firing of weapons by persons of the nation's armed forces acting under military authority, and shall not apply to law enforcement officials in the proper enforcement of the law, or to any person in the proper exercise of the right of self defense, or to any person otherwise lawfully permitted by proper federal, state or local authorities to discharge a firearm in a manner contrary to the provisions of this section.
(F) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (F)(2) and (F)(3) below, it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge firearms, flobert rifles, air guns (including rifles or pistols expelling BB pellets, shot or other projectiles by means of compressed air or carbon dioxide), or use any sling shots within the corporate limits of the city; provided, however, that this division shall not be construed to apply to any military company when drilling under the command of any officer thereof, or to the use of firearms in the lawful defense of persons, family or property of any person, or to police officers when in the lawful discharge of their duties.
(2) The discharge of shotgun ammunition (No. 6 pellet size or smaller) from shotguns shall be permitted on property (zoned agricultural or open space) which is designated in a valid permit for that purpose issued by the Chief of Police upon such terms and conditions as the Chief of Police shall determine to be reasonable under the circumstances. The permit may only be issued to the owner(s) of the property designated therein. Owner(s) shall be solely responsible for the safe and proper discharge of shotguns by any person in accordance with the restrictions of the permit.
(3) The discharge of shotguns using a single ball shall be permitted on property at least 25 acres in area zoned agricultural or open space during the statewide deer season.
(4) The discharge of muzzle loading shotguns using a single ball shall be permitted on property at least 25 acres in area zoned agricultural or open space during the statewide primitive deer season.
(5) Whoever violates this section shall be subject to the provisions of § 130.99. In lieu of or in addition to any fine or imprisonment imposed, the firearm, flobert rifle, air gun (including rifles or pistols expelling BB pellets, shot or other projectiles by means of compressed air or carbon dioxide) or sling shot shall be impounded by the Police Department and be subject to confiscation and/or disposal by court order after due consideration of all relevant circumstances of each particular case.
(‘97 Code, § 134.02) (Ord. 61-81, passed 10-5-81; Am. Ord. 75-82, passed 12-20-82; Am. Ord. 1-89, passed 1-3-89; Am. Ord. 39-93, passed 9-7-93) Penalty, see § 130.99
Statutory reference:
Improperly discharging firearm at or into habitation or school, felony offense, see R.C. § 2923.161