Gun Laws And 2a
Buckeye Firearms Association Demands Dismissal of Charges Against Ohio Veteran
Advocacy group says prosecution of constitutional carry case violates state law and Second Amendment
📅
✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Sylvania, OH
The Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) is demanding that prosecutors in Sylvania, Ohio, immediately drop what it calls an illegal and unconstitutional prosecution against Vontae Garrett, a U.S. Army veteran and former special-deputy sheriff. Garrett was arrested during a traffic stop by a Lucas County Sheriffs deputy and charged with felony improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, despite being legally entitled to carry under both Indiana and Ohio law. BFA argues that this case represents a direct violation of Garretts Second Amendment rights and sends a chilling message to lawful gun owners across the state. Court filings reveal that prosecutors claim Garretts Indiana concealed carry permit is not valid in Ohio and that Indiana does not have reciprocity with Ohio. However, BFA points out that Ohio has automatic reciprocity with every other state, a policy that has been in place since March 23, 2015, and clearly stated on the Ohio Attorney Generals website. Furthermore, Indiana implemented constitutional carry on July 1, 2022, allowing any law-abiding resident to legally carry a handgun without a permit. Garrett, therefore, was in full compliance with both Indiana law and Ohios own constitutional carry statute, which allows any person not prohibited by lawwhether a resident or nonresidentto carry or transport a firearm without a license. BFA has also raised alarm about the prosecutorial stance that any individual, even those holding valid concealed handgun licenses, may be arrested and charged simply for having a loaded firearm in their car. This interpretation, the association warns, would expose virtually every lawful gun owner traveling through Ohio to arrest, bond conditions that prohibit possession of firearms during the case, and months of legal uncertainty until an indictment is returned. The association stresses that such practices not only violate the plain language of Ohio law but also strip individuals of their constitutional rights without due process. Dean Rieck, executive director of BFA, called this the single most outrageous prosecution our organization has witnessed in more than 20 years. He argues that if a decorated veteran and former law enforcement officer can be treated this way, ordinary citizens have little protection from arbitrary enforcement. Rieck further warned that allowing this prosecution to continue would embolden prosecutors elsewhere to bring similar charges, effectively nullifying Ohios constitutional carry protections. The case has sparked outrage among gun rights advocates, who see it as a test of whether Ohio will uphold the rights guaranteed under its revised statutes. Many are calling for Attorney General Dave Yost and the state legislature to step in and provide immediate clarification to ensure that law-abiding citizens are not criminalized for exercising their rights. BFA is also urging the General Assembly to consider legislative remedies that would prevent similar cases from moving forward in the future and to reaffirm Ohios commitment to constitutional carry. Legal experts note that this case could have wide-reaching implications. If the prosecution succeeds, it could set a precedent that effectively guts Ohios constitutional carry law, allowing local authorities to reinterpret or ignore state law at will. Conversely, if the charges are dismissed, it would send a strong message that constitutional carry protections are robust and must be respected uniformly across all jurisdictions in Ohio.