COLUMBUS – A divided Ohio Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to a now-repealed ordinance in Ohio’s capital city banning bump stocks, which allow semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly.
The state’s highest court ruled 4-3 Friday that two Ohio gun-rights groups, Ohioans for Concealed Carry and Buckeye Firearms Foundation, had no standing to sue the city of Columbus, according to a release from the office of City Attorney Zach Klein.
The court majority decided that the groups had suffered no harm in a case that the justices heard despite the fact that the Columbus City Council had repealed its ordinance a year ago because a federal law banned the devices following the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting.
The decision means that Columbus will continue to enforce its ordinance prohibiting any individual convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge from possessing a firearm.
“This court victory is one for community safety. Columbus leaders have a responsibility and home-rule authority to make rules that help keep our residents safe. And we will continue to do what we can to address gun violence and fight back against the gun lobby’s meritless efforts,” Klein said.
The city argued that the individual plaintiff listed on the complaint has neither alleged that that he owns a gun nor considered purchasing one, and thus has no legal right to challenge the ordinances.