Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2923
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.122 (2026)

Illegal conveyance or possession of deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance or of object indistinguishable from firearm in school safety zone

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
October 3, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) No person shall knowingly convey, or attempt to convey, a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance into a school safety zone.

(B) No person shall knowingly possess a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in a school safety zone.

(C) No person shall knowingly possess an object in a school safety zone if both of the following apply:

(1) The object is indistinguishable from a firearm, whether or not the object is capable of being fired.

(2) The person indicates that the person possesses the object and that it is a firearm, or the person knowingly displays or brandishes the object and indicates that it is a firearm.

(D)(1) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(a) An officer, agent, or employee of this or any other state or the United States who is authorized to carry deadly weapons or dangerous ordnance and is acting within the scope of the officer's, agent's, or employee's duties;

(b) A law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry deadly weapons or dangerous ordnance;

(c) A security officer employed by a board of education or governing body of a school during the time that the security officer is on duty pursuant to that contract of employment;

(d) Any person not described in divisions (D)(1)(a) to (c) of this section who has written authorization from the board of education or governing body of a school to convey deadly weapons or dangerous ordnance into a school safety zone or to possess a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in a school safety zone and who conveys or possesses the deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in accordance with that authorization, provided both of the following apply:

(i) Either the person has successfully completed the curriculum, instruction, and training established under section 5502.703 of the Revised Code, or the person has received a certificate of having satisfactorily completed an approved basic peace officer training program or is a law enforcement officer;

(ii) The board or governing body has notified the public, by whatever means the affected school regularly communicates with the public, that the board or governing body has authorized one or more persons to go armed within a school operated by the board or governing authority.

A district board or school governing body that authorizes a person under division (D)(1)(d) of this section shall require that person to submit to an annual criminal records check conducted in the same manner as section 3319.39 or 3319.391 of the Revised Code.

(e) Any person who is employed in this state, who is authorized to carry deadly weapons or dangerous ordnance, and who is subject to and in compliance with the requirements of section 109.801 of the Revised Code, unless the appointing authority of the person has expressly specified that the exemption provided in division (D)(1)(e) of this section does not apply to the person.

(2) Division (C) of this section does not apply to premises upon which home schooling is conducted. Division (C) of this section also does not apply to a school administrator, teacher, or employee who possesses an object that is indistinguishable from a firearm for legitimate school purposes during the course of employment, a student who uses an object that is indistinguishable from a firearm under the direction of a school administrator, teacher, or employee, or any other person who with the express prior approval of a school administrator possesses an object that is indistinguishable from a firearm for a legitimate purpose, including the use of the object in a ceremonial activity, a play, reenactment, or other dramatic presentation, school safety training, or a ROTC activity or another similar use of the object.

(3) This section does not apply to a person who conveys or attempts to convey a handgun into, or possesses a handgun in, a school safety zone if, at the time of that conveyance, attempted conveyance, or possession of the handgun, all of the following apply:

(a) The person does not enter into a school building or onto school premises and is not at a school activity.

(b) The person has been issued a concealed handgun license that is valid at the time of the conveyance, attempted conveyance, or possession or the person is an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States and is carrying a valid military identification card and documentation of successful completion of firearms training that meets or exceeds the training requirements described in division (G)(1) of section 2923.125 of the Revised Code.

(c) The person is in the school safety zone in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 922(q)(2)(B).

(d) The person is not knowingly in a place described in division (B)(1) or (B)(3) to (8) of section 2923.126 of the Revised Code.

(4) This section does not apply to a person who conveys or attempts to convey a handgun into, or possesses a handgun in, a school safety zone if at the time of that conveyance, attempted conveyance, or possession of the handgun all of the following apply:

(a) The person has been issued a concealed handgun license that is valid at the time of the conveyance, attempted conveyance, or possession or the person is an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States and is carrying a valid military identification card and documentation of successful completion of firearms training that meets or exceeds the training requirements described in division (G)(1) of section 2923.125 of the Revised Code.

(b) The person leaves the handgun in a motor vehicle.

(c) The handgun does not leave the motor vehicle.

(d) If the person exits the motor vehicle, the person locks the motor vehicle.

(E)(1) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in a school safety zone. Except as otherwise provided in this division, illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in a school safety zone is a felony of the fifth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section, illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in a school safety zone is a felony of the fourth degree.

(2) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is guilty of illegal possession of an object indistinguishable from a firearm in a school safety zone. Except as otherwise provided in this division, illegal possession of an object indistinguishable from a firearm in a school safety zone is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section, illegal possession of an object indistinguishable from a firearm in a school safety zone is a felony of the fifth degree.

(F)(1) In addition to any other penalty imposed upon a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section and subject to division (F)(2) of this section, if the offender has not attained nineteen years of age, regardless of whether the offender is attending or is enrolled in a school operated by a board of education or for which the director of education and workforce prescribes minimum standards under section 3301.07 of the Revised Code, the court shall impose upon the offender a class four suspension of the offender's probationary driver's license, restricted license, driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, or probationary commercial driver's license that then is in effect from the range specified in division (A)(4) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code and shall deny the offender the issuance of any permit or license of that type during the period of the suspension.

If the offender is not a resident of this state, the court shall impose a class four suspension of the nonresident operating privilege of the offender from the range specified in division (A)(4) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.

(2) If the offender shows good cause why the court should not suspend one of the types of licenses, permits, or privileges specified in division (F)(1) of this section or deny the issuance of one of the temporary instruction permits specified in that division, the court in its discretion may choose not to impose the suspension, revocation, or denial required in that division, but the court, in its discretion, instead may require the offender to perform community service for a number of hours determined by the court.

(G) As used in this section, "object that is indistinguishable from a firearm" means an object made, constructed, or altered so that, to a reasonable person without specialized training in firearms, the object appears to be a firearm.

Last updated July 20, 2023 at 11:34 AM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 2006–2025 · leading case: Gabbard v. Madison Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. (Slip Opinion), 2021 Ohio 2067 (Ohio 2021).
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Gabbard v. Madison Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. (Slip Opinion), 2021 Ohio 2067 (Ohio 2021). · cites it 88× “{¶ 5} The second statute, R.C. 2923.122, defines the criminal offenses of illegal conveyance into or possession in a school safety zone of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.”
State v. Aalim (Slip Opinion), 2017 Ohio 2956 (Ohio 2017). · cites it 2× “17, or firearm laws, R.C. 2923.122(F)(1), are subject to driver’s-license suspension.”
State v. Ritchie, 883 N.E.2d 1092 (Ohio Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 5× “STATEMENT OF THE CASE 1 {¶ 2} On October 19, 1995, the Ashland County Grand Jury indicted appellant on two counts of illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon on school premises, in violation of R.C. 2923.122(A). Appellant appeared before the trial court for…”
Ohioans for Concealed Carry, Inc. v. City of Clyde, 896 N.E.2d 967 (Ohio 2008). · cites it 2× “03 of the Revised Code; {¶ 7} “(2) A school safety zone, in violation of section 2923.122 of the Revised Code; {¶ 8} “(3) A courthouse or another building or structure in which a courtroom is located, in violation of section 2923.”
State v. Gray, 2022 Ohio 2940 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 2× “The court shall not impose any of the prison terms described in division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of this section upon an offender for a violation of section 2923.122 [conveying or possessing a deadly weapon in a school safety zone] that involves a deadly weapon that is a firearm other…”
State v. Peters, 2023 Ohio 4362 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). “Additionally, where a violation of R.C. 2923.122 (conveyance or possession of deadly weapons or dangerous ordnance in school safety zone) “involves a deadly weapon that is a firearm other than a dangerous ordnance,” the trial court is not permitted to impose a sentence for a…”
State v. Caulton, 2011 Ohio 6636 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “13(A)(3)(B)), a third-degree felony; (3) illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance into a school safety zone (R.C. 2923.122(B)(D)), a fifth-degree felony; and (4) inducing panic (R.”
State v. Rouse, 2019 Ohio 708 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “11(A)(2), as alleged in Count 3; possessing a deadly weapon or dangerous ordinance in a school safety zone, in violation of R.C. 2923.122, as alleged in Count 5; and one count of receiving stolen property, in violation of R.”
In Re J.T., 2015 Ohio 3654 (Ohio 2015). “R.C. 2923.122(C), the statute prohibiting weapons within a school zone, states, “No person shall knowingly possess an object in a school safety zone if * * * [t]he object is indistinguishable from a firearm, whether or not the object is capable of being fired.”
City of Toledo v. Beatty, 863 N.E.2d 1051 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “03 of the Revised Code; {¶ 5} “(2) A school safety zone, in violation of section 2923.122 of the Revised Code; {¶ 6} “(3) A courthouse or another building or structure in which a courtroom is located, in violation of section 2923.”
State v. Thomas, 2015 Ohio 4932 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015). “R.C. 2923.122(C), the statute prohibiting weapons within a school zone, states, “No person shall knowingly possess an object in a school safety zone if * * * [t]he object is indistinguishable from a firearm, whether or not the object is capable of being fired.”
In re M.K., 2022 Ohio 4537 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). “{¶8} Next, we turn to the juvenile case numbered 17-6652z (“Case C”), involving a charge for what, if committed by an adult, would be illegal possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone under R.”
Show all 20 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.122(A) — 4 cases
Gabbard v. Madison Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. (Slip Opinion), 2021 Ohio 2067 (Ohio 2021). “{¶ 5} The second statute, R.C. 2923.122, defines the criminal offenses of illegal conveyance into or possession in a school safety zone of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.”
State v. Ritchie, 883 N.E.2d 1092 (Ohio Ct. App. 2007). “STATEMENT OF THE CASE 1 {¶ 2} On October 19, 1995, the Ashland County Grand Jury indicted appellant on two counts of illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon on school premises, in violation of R.C. 2923.122(A). Appellant appeared before the trial court for…”
State v. Grissom, 2019 Ohio 3687 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Moore, 2011 Ohio 5695 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.122(B) — 4 cases
Gabbard v. Madison Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. (Slip Opinion), 2021 Ohio 2067 (Ohio 2021). “{¶ 5} The second statute, R.C. 2923.122, defines the criminal offenses of illegal conveyance into or possession in a school safety zone of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.”
State v. McConnell, 2019 Ohio 3736 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Hall, 2010 Ohio 6146 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010).
State v. Wysocki, 2025 Ohio 2915 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.122(B)(D) — 1 case
State v. Caulton, 2011 Ohio 6636 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “13(A)(3)(B)), a third-degree felony; (3) illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance into a school safety zone (R.C. 2923.122(B)(D)), a fifth-degree felony; and (4) inducing panic (R.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.122(C) — 2 cases
In Re J.T., 2015 Ohio 3654 (Ohio 2015). “R.C. 2923.122(C), the statute prohibiting weapons within a school zone, states, “No person shall knowingly possess an object in a school safety zone if * * * [t]he object is indistinguishable from a firearm, whether or not the object is capable of being fired.”
State v. Thomas, 2015 Ohio 4932 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015). “R.C. 2923.122(C), the statute prohibiting weapons within a school zone, states, “No person shall knowingly possess an object in a school safety zone if * * * [t]he object is indistinguishable from a firearm, whether or not the object is capable of being fired.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.122(D)(1)(A) — 1 case
Gabbard v. Madison Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. (Slip Opinion), 2021 Ohio 2067 (Ohio 2021). “{¶ 5} The second statute, R.C. 2923.122, defines the criminal offenses of illegal conveyance into or possession in a school safety zone of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.122(D)(1)(a) — 1 case
Gabbard v. Madison Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. (Slip Opinion), 2021 Ohio 2067 (Ohio 2021). “{¶ 5} The second statute, R.C. 2923.122, defines the criminal offenses of illegal conveyance into or possession in a school safety zone of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.122(D)(1)(b) — 1 case
Gabbard v. Madison Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. (Slip Opinion), 2021 Ohio 2067 (Ohio 2021). “{¶ 5} The second statute, R.C. 2923.122, defines the criminal offenses of illegal conveyance into or possession in a school safety zone of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.122(F)(1) — 1 case
State v. Aalim (Slip Opinion), 2017 Ohio 2956 (Ohio 2017). “17, or firearm laws, R.C. 2923.122(F)(1), are subject to driver’s-license suspension.”
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