State Rep. Darnell Brewer is pushing a new safe-storage crackdown at the Ohio Statehouse, rolling out "Amya's Law" on May 8, 2026, in direct response to the Dec. 5, 2025 shooting that killed 11-year-old Amya Frazier in Columbus. The proposal, named in her honor, mixes tax perks and a voluntary storage system with fresh criminal penalties when a negligently stored gun leads to someone getting hurt.
What Amya's Law Would Do
At the pocketbook level, Brewer's bill would exempt certain firearm-safety devices from sales tax and create a nonrefundable income tax credit of up to $250 to help pay for gun safes, lockboxes and trigger locks. It would also require the attorney general to put out a free safe-storage pamphlet and set up a voluntary temporary storage program so gun owners can park their firearms with a licensed dealer or law enforcement agency during high-risk periods.
On the enforcement side, the measure would create criminal penalties for improper storage that results in physical harm, with offenses described in county and state reporting as ranging from a first-degree misdemeanor up to a fourth-degree felony, according to News 5 Cleveland.
The Case Behind The Name
Frazier was shot inside a Columbus home on Dec. 5, 2025, and died three days later at Nationwide Children's Hospital, according to local reporting. Police say a 14-year-old relative fired the weapon after getting hold of an unsecured firearm. The teen is facing a juvenile reckless-homicide charge, and the girl's uncle was later charged in connection with the case, per reporting originally published by the Columbus Dispatch.
Where The Bill Fits Into Local Fights Over Storage
Brewer's proposal lands in the middle of a long-running fight over who gets to set the rules on firearms in Ohio. Columbus passed its own safe-storage ordinance back in December 2022 and has been battling in court to keep key pieces of that law alive. The city recently won permission to continue its appeal after a judge issued a preliminary injunction, a development City Attorney Zach Klein flagged as part of a broader push for statewide gun safety policy. Details appear in the city attorney's April 2026 newsletter from the City of Columbus.
Reactions And Politics
Brewer has framed Amya's Law as a narrow, common-sense move that respects the Second Amendment while pushing Ohio gun owners to lock up firearms when kids are around. Supporters argue that tax breaks and free lock distribution are a practical, not purely punitive, way to reduce preventable shootings in homes.
Critics counter that new criminal penalties for how people store guns could run into constitutional challenges and expand criminal liability too far. Early coverage shows both bipartisan supporters and Republican skeptics already staking out their talking points, according to 10TV.
Next Steps
Brewer's bills will now wind through the Ohio House, where they are expected to be assigned to a committee for hearings and public testimony. The proposals land alongside other measures on the docket that deal with safe-storage incentives and taxes, including bills that would exempt safety devices from sales tax and create tax credits for training and storage. Brewer's sponsored legislation list is available on the Ohio House website.
Legal Implications
If passed, Amya's Law would give prosecutors a clearer tool to pursue criminal accountability when a negligently stored firearm lets a minor cause physical harm, potentially shifting how law enforcement and courts handle similar cases in the future. The criminal cases tied to Frazier's death, including the juvenile charge against the teen who fired the gun and the charges against the uncle, remain active in Franklin County courts as lawmakers debate the proposal, according to Law&Crime and other local coverage.
