(A) As used in this section:

Terms Used In Ohio Code 2305.401

  • Another: when used to designate the owner of property which is the subject of an offense, includes not only natural persons but also every other owner of property. See Ohio Code 1.02
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • Property: means real and personal property. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.

(1) “Ammunition” means any projectile capable of being expelled or propelled from a firearm by the action of an explosive or combustible propellant.

(2) “Firearm” has the same meaning as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

(3) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, “harm” means injury, death, or loss to person or property.

(4) “Member of the firearms industry” means any manufacturer, dealer, or importer of firearms, firearms components, or firearms ammunition or any trade association the members of which, in whole or in part, are manufacturers, dealers, or importers of firearms, firearms components, or firearms ammunition.

(5) “Person” has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and additionally includes all governmental entities.

(6) “Tort action” means a civil action for damages for injury, death, or loss to person or property other than a civil action for damages for a breach of contract or another agreement between persons.

(B)(1) Except as provided in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section and subject to division (C) of this section, a member of the firearms industry is not liable in damages in, and is not subject to a grant of injunctive relief in, a tort or other civil action for harm allegedly sustained by any person as a result of the operation or discharge of a firearm. Except as provided in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section and subject to division (C) of this section, a person who allegedly sustains harm as a result of the operation or discharge of a firearm or that person’s personal representative does not have a claim for relief against, and may not recover damages or injunctive relief in a tort or other civil action against, a member of the firearms industry based upon that harm.

(2) A member of the firearms industry forfeits the immunity from civil liability and injunctive relief conferred by division (B)(1) of this section if the member of the firearms industry operates or discharges the firearm that results in the harm that is the basis of the claim for relief in the tort or other civil action in a manner that constitutes negligence, willful or wanton misconduct, or intentionally tortious conduct or that constitutes a criminal violation of law.

(3) A member of the firearms industry forfeits the immunity from civil liability and injunctive relief conferred by division (B)(1) of this section if the member of the firearms industry sells, lends, gives, or furnishes to any person, in violation of section 2923.20 or 2923.21 or another section of the Revised Code or in violation of federal law, the firearm that results in the harm that is the basis of the claim for relief in the tort or other civil action.

(C)(1) This section does not create a new cause of action or substantive legal right against a member of the firearms industry.

(2) This section does not limit the availability against a member of the firearms industry of a civil action that seeks damages for harm and that is based on a product liability claim authorized by Chapter 2307 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, “harm” and “product liability claim” have the same meanings as in section 2307.71 of the Revised Code.

(3) This section does not limit the availability against a member of the firearms industry of a civil action for a breach of an express provision of a contract or of another agreement between persons, or a civil action for a breach of an express warranty, pertaining to firearms, firearms components, or firearms ammunition.

(D) This section applies to tort or other civil actions commenced on or after the effective date of this section, or commenced prior to and pending on the effective date of this section, for damages or injunctive relief based upon harm allegedly sustained by any person as a result of the operation or discharge of a firearm prior to, on, or after the effective date of this section.

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