Ohio legislators have signed off on a new option for gun owners who hit a rough patch and want their firearms out of the house, at least for a while. On Wednesday, they unanimously approved Senate Bill 273, known as the Keep Them Safe Act, which would let people voluntarily store their guns with licensed dealers or law enforcement during a mental health or personal crisis. Supporters say the bill is a narrowly tailored tool that gives families a temporary, voluntary way to keep weapons away from someone who may be at risk.
As WKRC Local 12 reports, the measure allows a lawful gun owner, or someone the owner has authorized, to bring a firearm to a federally licensed dealer or a police agency for storage "until it is safe for the person to have it again." The bill’s sponsors told the station they see it as a practical option for veterans dealing with PTSD and for families worried about a loved one who might be in crisis.
Senator's pitch
Sen. Kyle Koehler, the bill’s primary sponsor, framed the legislation as a way for people to create space between themselves and their guns when things get unstable. The Ohio Senate quoted him as saying it would help people "put distance between their firearms and themselves or their families." He also emphasized that the proposal does not change any of Ohio’s existing gun laws and said it is intended to encourage federally licensed firearms dealers and law enforcement agencies to offer storage services.
How the bill would work
Under the enrolled bill, an owner or authorized person could, upon application and agreement, store a firearm with a federally licensed firearms dealer or a law enforcement agency. No dealer or agency would be required to participate or to offer storage for free. Dealers would still have to follow all federal transfer rules, could set their own policies, and could refuse to return a firearm if doing so would violate state or federal law.
The bill also declares that application records are confidential. It grants civil immunity to most participating dealers and agencies for accepting, storing, or returning firearms, while still leaving a route for gun owners to challenge an unlawful refusal to return a weapon. The full conditions and procedures are laid out in the enrolled bill itself.
Who supports it and why
Supporters of SB 273 span a wide spectrum, from the Buckeye Firearms Association to survivor and suicide prevention advocates. The BFA has told lawmakers that liability fears have discouraged many retailers from offering storage and has praised the bill’s immunity provisions. Local advocacy groups, including the Whitney Strong Organization, have said the bill creates a voluntary, non-punitive tool for families who want to lower risk without involving criminal penalties, according to Spectrum News and BFA testimony.
Public health research and federal guidance, including the U.S. National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, recommend limiting access to highly lethal means during a crisis as a way to reduce suicide deaths. Supporters argue that temporary, voluntary gun storage fits squarely into that playbook.
Legal implications
An analysis from the Legislative Service Commission explains that SB 273 largely shields federally licensed firearms dealers from civil lawsuits tied to accepting, storing, or returning a firearm, unless a dealer acts with malicious purpose or withholds a gun without legal justification. The bill offers similar protections for law enforcement agencies under Chapter 2744 of the Ohio Revised Code.
The measure directs the Attorney General to create a standard application form and model procedures that participating dealers and agencies can use. It also allows courts to award court costs and attorneys’ fees to gun owners if a firearm is unlawfully withheld. Lawmakers designed those pieces to address liability and privacy worries that have kept some potential storage providers on the sidelines while still setting a clear, narrow path for future legal disputes.
What's next
The legislature has sent the enrolled bill to Gov. Mike DeWine, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without his signature, according to the Ohio Senate bill page. If the governor signs and the bill is filed with the Secretary of State, the final act will spell out when the law takes effect, and the Attorney General’s office would then roll out the required forms and guidance.
Open questions remain, including which dealers and agencies will choose to participate, what fees they might charge, and how local officials will get the word out about the new option. For now, lawmakers have cleared the path and handed the next move to the governor.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for immediate help.
