Ohio is an open-carry state with no minimum age set by statute for long guns and 18 for handguns on private property. Columbus cannot prohibit lawful open carry due to Ohio Revised Code Section 9.68 preemption of local firearms rules.
Ohio law contains no statute prohibiting the open carry of firearms. Adults legally able to possess a handgun may openly carry it in public, with most carriers being 21 or older. Long guns may also be carried openly. Ohio Revised Code Section 9.68 preempts Columbus from enacting open-carry bans, posting bans on public sidewalks, or imposing local permit requirements. Columbus may bar firearms inside city-owned buildings consistent with ORC Section 2923.126, and private property owners may post signs prohibiting firearms. Open carry remains illegal in school safety zones, courthouses, secured airport areas, and posted government facilities. Carriers in motor vehicles must follow ORC Section 2923.16 transportation rules separately.
Improper open carry in prohibited places like schools or courthouses is a fifth-degree felony under ORC 2923.122 or 2923.123, with fines up to $2,500 and up to twelve months imprisonment per offense.
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Columbus, OH
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