Ohio has weak gun laws and a correspondingly high gun death rate. State lawmakers owe it to their constituents to do more to protect communities.
The state fails to require background checks on gun sales and has very weak protections for victims of domestic violence and violent hate crimes. In 2022, Ohio had the twenty-fifth highest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 1,728 people die from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every 5 hours. Fifty-seven percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 41% are gun homicides. In Ohio, the rate of gun deaths increased 42% from 2013 to 2022, compared to a 36% increase nationwide.
What Ohio Does Well
- Lost & stolen firearm reporting
What Ohio Is Missing
- Universal background checks
- Gun owner licensing
- Extreme risk protection orders
- Most domestic violence gun laws
- Assault weapon restrictions
- Large capacity magazine ban
- Waiting periods
- Strong concealed carry law
- Concealed carry permit
- Open carry regulations
- Child access prevention laws
- Community violence intervention funding
SPOTLIGHT
GUN LAW SCORECARD
The data is clear: states with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.
Read MoreEXPLORE OHIO’S GUN LAWS
WHO CAN HAVE A GUN
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
GUNS IN PUBLIC
HARDWARE & AMMUNITION
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
SUPPORT GUN SAFETY
We’re in this together. To build a safer America—one where children and parents in every neighborhood can learn, play, work, and worship without fear of gun violence—we need you standing beside us in this fight.
