Dayton Gun Charge Attorneys

Restrictions on Weapons Possession

Not everyone can purchase and/or openly carry a weapon anywhere in the state of Ohio. The laws set out specific restrictions regarding firearms, including the following:

• Anyone who is under indictment or who has been convicted of a felony drug offense or a violent felony may not own a firearm (unless they have had their firearm rights restored);

• You may not sell or give a firearm to a minor (unless it is part of an educational program or for hunting);
• You may not possess, purchase, or sell firearms on school grounds or at school activities (except law enforcement officers and some parents with concealed carry licenses);
• You cannot possess a firearm in establishments that sell alcohol or while you are under the influence of alcohol;
• You may not alter firearms to mask or remove the serial number or other identifying factors and may not possess a firearm that you know has been altered.

In addition to the above restrictions, almost everyone is prohibited by law from possessing the following weapons:

• Sawed-off shotguns;
• Automatic firearms;
• Silencers;
• Explosives or bombs;
• Ballistic knives;
• Military weapons such as grenades, rocket launchers, or mines;
• Dynamite.

The penalties for weapons violations will vary depending on the type of offense, whether you have had prior convictions, and whether other criminal allegations accompany the weapon charges. One example of a serious penalty is unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which is a third-degree felony with a possible sentence of up to five years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.