(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) hereof, no person shall leave or store a loaded firearm, or an unloaded firearm with the ammunition ready at hand, when the person knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that an unsupervised child under the age of eighteen, or an unsupervised mentally or physically handicapped child under the age of twenty-one would gain access to such firearm.
(b) A person shall not be subject to prosecution under the provisions of subsection (a) hereof when any of the following apply:
(1) The child’s access to such firearm is supervised by a person eighteen years of age or older;
(2) The child’s access to such firearm was obtained as a result of an unlawful entry to the premises;
(3) Such firearm is in the possession or control of a law enforcement officer while the officer is engaged in his official duties;
(4) The firearm is not operable;
(5) The child possesses a valid hunter safety card as set forth in Section 1501:31-29-02 of the Ohio Administrative Code.
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(Ord. 75-92. Passed 8-17-92.)