The 88-page bill, H.B. 234, is an expansive reform of the state’s gun laws.

Relating to the use of sound suppressors, commonly referred to as silencers, the act allows for hunters in the state to hunt wild turkey and other game birds; small game such as squirrels and rabbits; and white-tailed deer and feral pigs. It further includes a “Shall Sign/Certify” provision to require Chief Law Enforcement Officers to process National Firearms Act applications for suppressors and other Title II firearms such as short barreled rifles and transferable machine guns. Once Gov. Kasich signs the new law, CLEOs will be required to sign applications unless the applicant is found to be a prohibited person.

According to the latest figures from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the number of registered suppressors in Ohio increased by 144 percent in a one-year period ending April 2013 to some 25,353 devices. A trade industry group specializing in the devices championed the show of strong support for increased acceptance of suppressors, pointing out the safety benefits of their use in the field.

FK – A right applied for is a privilege.