Ohio became a permitless-carry state on June 13, 2022, and that framework remains the law. Any qualifying adult who is 21 or older and not otherwise prohibited may carry a concealed handgun without a license. What has changed — twice in the last year — is the federal law layered on top of it.
In June 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court decided United States v. Hemani, holding that the federal ban on gun possession by unlawful drug users cannot be applied based on marijuana use alone. In August 2026, the Department of Justice finalized a federal gun-rights restoration process under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) — the first workable federal pathway in roughly 30 years, with public applications opening this fall.
Meanwhile, the charge our attorneys see most often in Hamilton and Butler County courts is one most people have never heard of: having weapons while under disability. It's a third-degree felony, and it applies to people who are merely under indictment — not just convicted.
What's inside the guide:
- Who can carry concealed in Ohio without a license in 2026 — and who still can't
- What to say (and not say) when an officer stops you while you're carrying
- The school safety zone exception that protects CHL holders but not permitless carriers — and why school pickup is where this catches people
- Marijuana and firearms after Hemani: what the ruling actually changed, and what it didn't
- Where you still cannot carry, including the locations that carry felony exposure
- Whether a CHL is still worth getting — three things a license gets you that permitless carry does not
- Four pathways to restore lost gun rights, including the new federal § 925(c) process
Fill out the form to download your free copy. If you've already been charged with a gun crime in Hamilton, Butler, or Warren County — or you're not sure whether you can lawfully own a firearm — don't guess. Call us at (513) 929-9333 for a free consultation.
