08/13/2026
EMAIL YOUR OHIO STATE REPRESENTATIVE! I DID!
Dear Representative Peterson,
I am a constituent of Ohio’s 91st House District writing to urge your strong support for advancing and passing Senate Bill 214 (or any companion or amended legislation that achieves the same result). This bill would remove firearm mufflers and suppressors from Ohio’s definition of “dangerous ordnance” under the Revised Code. In light of recent federal court action and actions already taken by other states, timely passage is essential to protect law-abiding Ohioans and prevent an avoidable legal trap.
As you know, Ohio currently classifies suppressors as dangerous ordnance. Possession is generally a felony under state law, with the primary practical exemption tied to federal registration under the National Fi****ms Act. Senate Bill 214, sponsored by Senator Kyle Koehler, passed the Ohio Senate on March 25, 2026, by a decisive 31–1 vote. It has been pending in the House Public Safety Committee since mid-May. The bill simply modernizes state law by removing suppressors (and related muffler language) from that outdated classification.
Recent federal developments make House action urgent. On August 5, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a permanent injunction in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF (consolidated with related cases). The court held that key National Fi****ms Act registration, application, and related requirements are unconstitutional as applied to untaxed firearms—specifically suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and certain other weapons—because Congress eliminated the making and transfer taxes on these items. The injunction bars the ATF and Department of Justice from enforcing those provisions against the plaintiffs and, where applicable, their members, agencies, and current and future customers.
This ruling exposes the danger of Ohio’s current statutory structure. Our state law still hinges the legality of suppressor possession on federal NFA registration. If federal enforcement of registration is blocked for covered parties while Ohio’s dangerous-ordnance statute remains unchanged, law-abiding owners and purchasers in our state face potential criminal exposure under state law through no fault of their own. SB 214 closes that gap by aligning Ohio’s statutes with the evolving federal landscape and ensuring that ordinary civilian ownership of these hearing-protection devices is not left dependent on a registration scheme a federal court has already enjoined in significant part.
Ohio is not alone in facing this issue, but other states have already acted.
A number of states that previously tied suppressor legality to federal NFA compliance have updated or removed those provisions so that state law no longer creates a registration trap. South Dakota, for example, enacted legislation earlier this year removing suppressors from its controlled-weapons list. Additional states have passed or advanced similar reforms precisely to anticipate federal changes and protect their residents. Ohio should join them rather than lag behind.
Suppressors are widely recognized as hearing-protection and noise-reduction devices used by hunters, sport shooters, and responsible gun owners. Ohio already permits their use for hunting under certain conditions, and the state has a strong tradition of supporting Second Amendment rights and outdoor recreation. Continuing to treat these items as “dangerous ordnance” alongside explosives and other high-risk devices is outdated and creates unnecessary risk for constituents who simply want to comply with the law.
I respectfully ask you to:
• Support moving SB 214 (or an expanded version that also addresses short-barreled rifles and shotguns if appropriate given the federal ruling) out of committee and to the House floor;
• Vote in favor of the legislation; and
• Encourage House leadership to prioritize this common-sense update before any further federal developments leave Ohioans exposed.
Thank you for your service to the 91st District and for your consideration of this important issue. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss it further or provide additional information. Please let me know how I can be of assistance in supporting this effort.
Respectfully,
Bryn McNeal
740-851-7779
Constituent of Pike County, Ohio House District 91
