Cutrona Cosponsors Firearm Industry Non-Discrimination Act

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) has cosponsored House Bill 297, known as the Firearm Industry Non-Discrimination (FIND) Act. The legislation will prevent any governmental entity from entering into a contract with a company for good or services that discriminates against any firearm entities or the firearm trade associations. 

Cutrona noted that the firearms industry provides over 13,000 jobs, $600 million in wages, and $1.8 billion total impact to Ohio’s economy. In addition, the industry and its employees generate over $226 million in tax revenues.

According to polling data of firearms retailers in eight separate states, over 70% of retailers experienced denial of credit/loans, insurance denial, or refusal of business from payment processors.

“Our taxpayers shouldn’t benefit companies that restrict the constitutional right to bear arms,” said Cutrona. “This bill not only sends a clear message that the State of Ohio supports the Second Amendment, but also safeguards the significant economic impact the firearms industry has on our state.”

H.B. 297 requires government contracts in Ohio to verify that the company seeking the contract does not have discriminatory policies against the firearm industry and will not discriminate against the firearm industry for the duration of the contract.  

In 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 476, similar legislation that prohibited the state from entering into contracts with businesses that boycotted Israel. 

House Bill 297 has 17 cosponsors and awaits its first committee hearing.