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Senate committee hears testimony on SB 278 to expand damages for municipal gun-law violations
Summary
Proponent testimony argued SB 278 would strengthen Ohio's firearm-preemption enforcement by allowing punitive damages against municipalities that enact or enforce local gun regulations in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 9.68; committee members asked for examples and questioned whether larger damages would deter local action.
Jim Samuels, legislative affairs director for the Buckeye Firearms Association, told the Senate Local Government Committee that Senate Bill 278 would "add teeth to the law" by expanding the damages a successful plaintiff may recover when a political subdivision violates state firearm preemption.
Samuels testified that Ohio Revised Code Section 9.68 already bars political subdivisions from regulating firearms, components, ammunition or knives and that, despite the statute and subsequent litigation, "cities continued to violate it." He said House Bill 228 (2019)…
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