COLUMBUS, Ohio - A citywide ban of bump stocks in Columbus has been ruled unconstitutional by a judge in Franklin County.
Judge David Cain issued the ruling on Thursday and the decision was filed on Friday.
Bump stocks can be mounted to semi-automatic rifles and can allow an increased rate-of-fire that is similar to fully-automatic weapons.
The ban was passed by Columbus City Council in May.
The Ohioans for Concealed Carry and the Buckeye Firearms Foundation sued over what the city has called 'common sense' gun laws.
"This is exactly what we expected," Dean Rieck, Executive Director of Buckeye Firearms Association, said in a written statement.
"We told the city that it could not pass any gun laws. But they ignored us and did it anyway. This victory is not a surprise, but it should be a warning to other cities in Ohio. Buckeye Firearms Association will not tolerate infringements against the Second Amendment and will take action against any city that passes unconstitutional laws."
In Thursday’s ruling, Cain said a different city ordinance making it a misdemeanor to have a gun while under disability is enforceable.
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein issued the following statement: “This decision is a huge win for common-sense gun regulations,” said Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein. “It’s simple: keeping guns out of the hands of criminals helps protect victims of domestic violence, law enforcement, and makes our community a safer place to live. Protecting our friends and neighbors from criminals with guns should be something we can all rally around—and we hope this law can serve as a roadmap for other cities working to enact local gun regulations. We appreciate the judge’s deliberation and analysis, but remain confident that bump stocks are an accessory that we have the legal authority to regulate in our city.”
To read the ordinances passed by city council, click here.
The ruling by Judge Cain can be read here.
