OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 433 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 433’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Rep. Blackshear
Effective date:
Sarah A. Maki, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Prohibits a person from knowingly, acquiring, having, carrying, or using any mass
casualty weapon and renames the offense “unlawful possession of a mass casualty
weapon or dangerous ordnance.”
 Provides that the penalty for unlawful possession of a mass casualty weapon or
dangerous ordnance is a fifth degree felony.
 Provides exceptions to unlawful possession of a mass casualty weapon or dangerous
ordnance.
 The bill defines “mass casualty weapon” as any semi-automatic firearm designed or
specially adapted to fire more than 31 cartridges without reloading, other than a firearm
chambering only .22 caliber short, long, or long-rifle cartridges.
 Makes necessary cross-reference changes.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Unlawful possession of a mass casualty weapon or dangerous
ordnance
The bill modifies the offense of “unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance” to
include a “mass casualty weapon” and renames the offense “unlawful possession of a mass
casualty weapon or dangerous ordnance.”1
1 R.C. 2923.17(A) and (D).
May 13, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
Offense
The bill prohibits a person from knowingly acquiring, having, carrying, or using any mass
casualty weapon. Under current law, a person is prohibited from knowingly acquiring, having,
carrying, or using a dangerous ordnance.2
Penalty
Under the bill and under current law, the penalty for unlawful possession of a mass
casualty weapon or dangerous ordnance is a fifth degree felony.3
Exceptions to the offense
Under the bill and under current law, the following exceptions apply to both mass
casualty weapons and dangerous ordnance:4
 Officers, agents, or employees of Ohio, another state, or the United States, members of
the U.S. Armed Forces, or the organized militia of Ohio or another state, and law
enforcement officers, to the extent that any such person is authorized to acquire, have,
carry, or use a mass casualty weapon or dangerous ordnance and is acting within the
scope of that person’s duties;
 Persons to whom a surplus mass casualty weapon or surplus ordnance has been sold,
loaded, or given by the Secretary of the Army with respect to a mass casualty weapon or
dangerous ordnance when lawfully possessed and used for the purpose specified under
federal law;
 Owners of a mass casualty weapon or dangerous ordnance registered in the National
Firearms Registration and Transfer Record;
 Carriers, warehouses, and others engaged in the business of transporting or storing
goods for hire, with respect to a mass casualty weapon or dangerous ordnance lawfully
transported or stored in the usual course of their business and in compliance with Ohio
law and applicable federal law.
Under current law, the following exceptions apply only to dangerous ordnance:5
 Importers, manufacturers, dealers, and users of explosives, having a license or user
permit issued and in effect pursuant to the “Organized Crime Control Act” with respect
to explosives and explosive devices lawfully acquired, possessed, carried, or used under
Ohio law and applicable federal law;
2 R.C. 2923.17(A).
3 R.C. 2923.17(D).
4 R.C. 2923.17(C)(1), (4), (5), and (6).
5 R.C. 2923.17(C)(2), (3), (7) and (8).
P a g e |2 H.B. 433
As Introduced
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 Importers, manufacturers, and dealers having a license to deal in destructive devices or
their ammunition, issued and in effect pursuant to the “Gun Control Act of 1968” with
respect to dangerous ordnance lawfully acquired, possessed, carried, or used under
Ohio law and applicable federal law;
 The holders of a license or temporary permit issued and in effect with respect to
dangerous ordnance lawfully acquired, possessed, carried, or used for the purpose and
in the manner specified in such license or permit;
 Persons who own a dangerous ordnance that is a firearm muffler or suppressor
attached to a gun that is authorized to be used for hunting and who are authorized to
use such a dangerous ordnance.
Definition of “mass casualty weapon”
The bill defines “mass casualty weapon” as any semi-automatic firearm designed or
specially adapted to fire more than 31 cartridges without reloading, other than a firearm
chambering only .22 caliber short, long, or long-rifle cartridges.6
Technical changes
The bill makes necessary cross-reference changes.7
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 02-27-24
ANHB0433IN-135/ts
6 R.C. 2923.11(F).
7 R.C. 2923.11 and 2923.12(C)(1)(c) and (d).
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As Introduced


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 2923.11, 2923.12, 2923.17