COLUMBUS — A Franklin County judge has ruled that an Ohio law that prevents cities from implementing their own gun control measures cannot be enforced in Columbus.
The city sued the state over the provision in a 2018 law that created additional gun rights for Ohioans.
Columbus officials argued it violated cities’ rights to govern themselves.
City Attorney Zach Klein calls Wednesday’s ruling by Common Pleas Court Judge Stephen McIntosh a “first step” toward helping quell gun violence in Columbus.
“Today’s ruling upholds our constitutional right to home rule, and with it, the people’s right to push for commonsense measures to reduce gun violence and keep our kids and communities safe,” Klein said in a statement released Wednesday.
Klein says the city plans to ask the court to make the injunction against the firearms pre-emption law permanent.
The state plans to appeal the temporary injunction.