Contact: Dean Rieck
614-882-8823
Gun Owner Groups WIN Lawsuit Against City of Columbus
COLUMBUS, OH - A Columbus Common Pleas Court today granted a permanent injunction against the City of Columbus forbidding it from enforcing its ban against bump stocks.
Buckeye Firearms Foundation and Ohioans for Concealed Carry lodged the suits soon after the ordinance was passed by City Council.
In a strongly worded final judgement, Cain dismantled the argument put forth by Columbus that it had the right to pass the ordinance against so-called bump stocks or trigger enhancers despite the fact that Ohio state law expressly forbids cities from passing their own firearms laws.
Judge Cain wrote in the ruling, "Columbus’ logic doesn’t work. It is clear that a bumpstock is a component of a firearm. Since this is so, the Bump-Stock Ban forbids something that state law allows, i.e. ownership of firearm components. The BumpStock Ban is in conflict with R.C. 9.68."
"This is exactly what we expected," said Dean Rieck, Executive Director of Buckeye Firearms Association. "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."
Rieck went on to criticize the city for wasting taxpayer dollars. "Not only has Columbus lost this lawsuit. They will now be forced to pay all attorney fees and legal costs. Instead of using that money for legitimate programs that would reduce crime, they have just thrown their money away on a completely useless lawsuit everyone knew they would lose. For what? To make a political statement? It's a shameful waste."
A similar suit has been filed against Cincinnati, which is still ongoing.
Buckeye Firearms Association is a grassroots organization dedicated to defending and advancing the right of citizens to own and use firearms for all legal activities, including self-defense, hunting, competition, and recreation