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Senate passes 'Keep Them Safe' bill to protect voluntary firearms storage providers
Summary
Senate Bill 273 establishes civil-immunity for federally licensed dealers and law-enforcement agencies that accept voluntary, short-term firearm storage. Proponents framed the bill as a suicide-prevention and public-safety measure; it passed unanimously.
Senate Bill 273, the Keep Them Safe Act, passed the Ohio Senate unanimously on Nov. 18.
The bill provides civil immunity for federally licensed firearm dealers and law-enforcement agencies that offer voluntary temporary storage to gun owners, subject to federal regulation. Sponsors described the measure as a targeted, voluntary policy aimed at saving lives: research discussed on the floor linked reduced immediate access to firearms with lower suicide risk.
Senator Kaler said the measure does not alter gun-rights law for owners but creates a safe, voluntary option for storage with confidentiality for paperwork exchanged between owners and storage providers. The debate was brief and noncontroversial on the floor; the recorded vote was 33–0.
Implementation will rely on FFLs and local agencies establishing protocols that comply with federal background-check and storage requirements.
