Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2923
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.20 (2026)

Unlawful transaction in weapons

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Effective:
April 12, 2021
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 140 - 133rd General Assembly
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(A) No person shall do any of the following:

(1) Recklessly sell, lend, give, or furnish any firearm to any person prohibited by section 2923.13 or 2923.15 of the Revised Code from acquiring or using any firearm, or recklessly sell, lend, give, or furnish any dangerous ordnance to any person prohibited by section 2923.13, 2923.15, or 2923.17 of the Revised Code from acquiring or using any dangerous ordnance;

(2) Possess any firearm or dangerous ordnance with purpose to dispose of it in violation of division (A) of this section;

(3) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, knowingly solicit, persuade, encourage, or entice a federally licensed firearms dealer or private seller to transfer a firearm or ammunition to any person in a manner prohibited by state or federal law;

(4) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, with an intent to deceive, knowingly provide materially false information to a federally licensed firearms dealer or private seller;

(5) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, knowingly procure, solicit, persuade, encourage, or entice a person to act in violation of division (A)(3) or (4) of this section;

(6) When transferring any dangerous ordnance to another, negligently fail to require the transferee to exhibit such identification, license, or permit showing the transferee to be authorized to acquire dangerous ordnance pursuant to section 2923.17 of the Revised Code, or negligently fail to take a complete record of the transaction and forthwith forward a copy of that record to the sheriff of the county or safety director or police chief of the municipality where the transaction takes place;

(7) Knowingly fail to report to law enforcement authorities forthwith the loss or theft of any firearm or dangerous ordnance in the person's possession or under the person's control.

(B) Divisions (A)(3), (4), and (5) of this section do not apply to any of the following:

(1) A law enforcement officer who is acting within the scope of the officer's duties;

(2) A person who is acting in accordance with directions given by a law enforcement officer described in division (B)(1) of this section.

(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful transactions in weapons. A violation of division (A)(1) or (2) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree. A violation of division (A)(3), (4), or (5) of this section is a felony of the third degree. A violation of division (A)(6) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree. A violation of division (A)(7) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Ammunition" has the same meaning as in section 2305.401 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Federally licensed firearms dealer" has the same meaning as in section 5502.63 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Materially false information" means information regarding the transfer of a firearm or ammunition that portrays an illegal transaction as legal or a legal transaction as illegal.

(4) "Private seller" means a person who sells, offers for sale, or transfers a firearm or ammunition and who is not a federally licensed firearms dealer.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1985–2023 · leading case: State v. Wolfe, 555 N.E.2d 689 (Ohio Ct. App. 1988).
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State v. Wolfe, 555 N.E.2d 689 (Ohio Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 10× “32), and possession of firearms with the purpose of engaging in unlawful transaction in weapons (R.C. 2923.20[A][2]]). At trial, Thomas and Laura were found guilty on two counts of unlawful transaction in weapons.”
State v. Morris, 2021-Ohio-2646. · cites it 2× “03(A)(1); one count of Unlawful Transaction in Weapons, a fourth-degree felony, in violation of R.C. §2923.20(A)(1); and one count of Improperly Furnishing Firearms to a Minor, a fifth-degree felony, in violation of R.”
City of Cleveland v. State, 2010-Ohio-6318, 128 Ohio St. 3d 135. · cites it 2× “Other statutes preclude the reckless transfer of a firearm to a person with a disability, R.C. 2923.20, preclude the defacement of identification marks on firearms, R.”
State v. Petefish, 2011-Ohio-6367. · cites it 2× “{27} In determining the types of knives that constitute deadly weapons, a number of courts have found R.C. 2923.20 instructive. The code section, captioned: “Unlawful transactions in weapons,” prohibits the manufacture of, possession of, and sale or furnishing “to any person…”
Caveny v. Raven Arms Co., 665 F. Supp. 530 (S.D. Ohio 1987). · cites it 2× “Plaintiffs also refer to Ohio Rev.Code § 2923.20(A)(3) which provides that no person shall: Manufacturer, possess for sale, sell, or furnish to any person other than the law enforcement agency for authorized use in police work, any brass knuckles, cestus, billy, blackjack,…”
Ciotto v. Hinkle, 2019-Ohio-3809, 145 N.E.3d 1013. “15 (prohibiting persons from carrying or using firearms while under the influence of alcohol or any drug of abuse); R.C.2923.20 (prohibiting furnishing weapon to person to whom R.”
State v. Coleman, 2023-Ohio-4354. “7, AND R.C. 2923.20 HAVE BEEN VIOLATED FOR DEFENDANT IS BEING ILLEGALLY HELD IN PRISON FOR AN INDICTMENT NOT LAWFULLY FOUND OR RETURNED BY THE GRAND JURY NOR WAS HE GIVEN A PRELIMINARY HEARING.”
State v. Bice, 2022-Ohio-122. “03(A)(2), a felony of the first degree, two counts of unlawful transaction of weapons in violation of R.C. 2923.20(A)(1), felonies of the fourth degree, one count of possession of drugs (a fentanyl-related compound) in violation of R.”
Bolus v. Saybrook Gunshop, Inc., 506 N.E.2d 253 (Ohio Ct. App. 11th Dist. 1985). “R.C. 2923.20 provides in pertinent part: “(A) No person shall: “(1) Recklessly sell * * * any firearm to any person prohibited by section 2923.”
City of Cincinnati v. Baskin, 112 Ohio St. 3d 279 (2006). “Beyond those allowances, Ohio law prohibits the reckless transfer of a firearm to one who may not possess it under Ohio law (R.C. 2923.20) and renders all sales and purchases subject to the federal Gun Control Act of 1968 (R.”
State v. Velasquez, 4 Ohio App. Unrep. 356 (Ohio Ct. App. 9th Dist. 1990). “32] and unlawful transaction in weapons [R.C. 2923.20(A)(2)], Appellant appealed. On June 22, 1988, the Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal because appellant failed to timely file his brief in accordance with App.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.20(A)(1): 3 cases
State v. Wolfe, 555 N.E.2d 689 (Ohio Ct. App. 1988). “32), and possession of firearms with the purpose of engaging in unlawful transaction in weapons (R.C. 2923.20[A][2]]). At trial, Thomas and Laura were found guilty on two counts of unlawful transaction in weapons.”
State v. Morris, 2021-Ohio-2646. “03(A)(1); one count of Unlawful Transaction in Weapons, a fourth-degree felony, in violation of R.C. §2923.20(A)(1); and one count of Improperly Furnishing Firearms to a Minor, a fifth-degree felony, in violation of R.”
State v. Bice, 2022-Ohio-122. “03(A)(2), a felony of the first degree, two counts of unlawful transaction of weapons in violation of R.C. 2923.20(A)(1), felonies of the fourth degree, one count of possession of drugs (a fentanyl-related compound) in violation of R.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.20(A)(2): 2 cases
State v. Wolfe, 555 N.E.2d 689 (Ohio Ct. App. 1988). “32), and possession of firearms with the purpose of engaging in unlawful transaction in weapons (R.C. 2923.20[A][2]]). At trial, Thomas and Laura were found guilty on two counts of unlawful transaction in weapons.”
State v. Velasquez, 4 Ohio App. Unrep. 356 (Ohio Ct. App. 9th Dist. 1990). “32] and unlawful transaction in weapons [R.C. 2923.20(A)(2)], Appellant appealed. On June 22, 1988, the Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal because appellant failed to timely file his brief in accordance with App.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.20(A)(3): 1 case
Caveny v. Raven Arms Co., 665 F. Supp. 530 (S.D. Ohio 1987). “Plaintiffs also refer to Ohio Rev.Code § 2923.20(A)(3) which provides that no person shall: Manufacturer, possess for sale, sell, or furnish to any person other than the law enforcement agency for authorized use in police work, any brass knuckles, cestus, billy, blackjack,…”
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