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Dems Unveil Commonsense Solutions to Keep Kids and
Communities Safe
Say Republicans are offering
solutions in search of a problem
Ohio House Democratic
lawmakers last week announced a number of proposals,
including safe storage, red-flag and background check laws,
commonsense measures they say will better keep kids and
communities safe. The package comes amid debate on House
Bill (HB) 178, controversial legislation Democrats say is a
solution in search of a problem.
"The answer to gun violence
is not simply more guns. The answer is responsible gun
ownership with laws that protect the gun owner and non-gun
owner alike," said Rep. Adam Miller (D-Columbus), the lead
Democrat on the House panel hearing HB 178. "If HB 178
passes it will be easier to own a concealed weapon than it
is to register to vote. Our children and our law enforcement
community deserve better."
HB 178 would allow anyone
aged 21 or older to carry a concealed weapon without a
license, without having to meet current concealed carry
training requirements and without having to inform police of
concealed weapons during a traffic stop.
Some two-thirds of Ohioans
say they are worried about the threat of gun violence in
their community, at their church or in their child's school.
Democrats' package includes
the Child Safety Protection Act, which would require
firearms to be stored safely and securely out of the reach
of minors. A 2018 study by the Giffords Law Center found
that 4.6 million American minors live in homes with at least
one loaded, unlocked firearm.
"As a concealed carry permit
holder myself, I support and respect the right to
responsibly bear arms," said Rep. Jessica E. Miranda
(D-Forest Park). "Our thoughts and prayers are not enough.
It's time to act to pass commonsense measures to keep kids
and communities safe."
Under the proposed law, gun
owners with children in their household would be required to
keep firearms in safe storage, equipped with a
tamper-resistant lock or other safety devices that render
the weapon inaccessible or inoperable by a minor.
Democrats also announced
their version of a red-flag law, allowing temporary
court-approved removal of guns from individuals at risk of
violence to themselves or others.
"Thousands of students, moms
and families across Ohio have stood up to say they want
safer schools and safer communities," said Rep. Bride Rose
Sweeney (D-Cleveland), one of the bill's joint sponsors.
"Instituting a commonsense red flag law is a proven,
effective solution to reduce gun violence and make our
schools, homes and communities safer."
"Gun violence is a public
health crisis. We owe it to our constituents to aggressively
pursue these commonsense solutions that reduce the risk of
gun injury and death," said Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper
Arlington), the red-flag bill's other joint sponsor.
"Otherwise, we are not delivering on our promise to families
that you can live, work, go to school and retire in Ohio
with safety and security."
The package also includes a
bill requiring background checks for all gun purchases.
"Closing background check
loopholes that allows minors, felons, and domestic abusers
to have easy access to guns is common sense as far as I'm
concerned. The vast majority of Ohioans support expanding
background checks, which have proven to reduce violent crime
and deter self-harm," said Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon), who
plans to sponsor the bill. "The gun lobby and their allies
are trying to force Ohio to turn its back on the thousands
of students, moms, and families who want gun safety-not more
gun violence."
Democrats' commonsense
safety proposals follow the recent announcement of the Ohio
Promise, Democrat's legislative agenda to restore the
state's promise of better lives and brighter futures for all
Ohioans.
Here is what other
Democratic lawmakers are saying about commonsense gun
safety:
"According to a March 2018
Quinnipiac University poll, 97 percent of American voters
support background checks. States with universal background
check requirements have 53 percent fewer firearm suicides
per capita than states without these laws. In the last 30
days, I have heard from diverse local constituent groups,
such as the Cuyahoga County Police Chiefs Association and
the Cleveland chapter of the National Council of Jewish
Women asking Columbus to pass commonsense laws on gun
safety. Ohio should do better for its citizens." -Minority
Whip Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid)
"I am against House Bill
178. How can we explain to the family of homicide firearm
victims that we passed a bill for no background check for
guns and no concealed carry weapon class requirement? How
can we make sure that police have the necessary information
that the person they pulled over has a concealed carry
weapon or not? We will not be able to do either if HB 178
passes. We must kill HB 178 before this becomes laws and
kills someone in our family-that is how we keep Ohio's
Promise." -Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland)
"Last year, more than 40,000
Americans lost their lives to gun violence. Solutions to
prevent gun violence exist-we just need the courage to
implement them. We can and must do better to enact
commonsense measures to keep our children safe." -Rep.
Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati).
"I am in full support of
legislation that promotes commonsense gun safety. Having a
red flag law will allow us to protect our loved ones when
they are most vulnerable to harming themselves. We don't let
our friends drive drunk, so why would we let our family
members or close friends have easy access to a gun when they
are severely depressed? These commonsense measures are a
commitment to Ohio communities and will protect families
from tragic loss of loved ones."-Rep. Mary Lightbody
(D-Westerville)
"As a safety instructor in
the Navy, I understood the importance of taking common sense
steps to protect ourselves and families. Widespread Common
Sense Gun Safety laws are essential for protecting our
children, law enforcement, and communities." -Rep. Lisa
Sobecki (D-Toledo)
"This common sense
evidence-based approach will save lives. It is critical
that we protect and support our children." -Rep. Beth Liston
(D-Dublin)
"We owe it to our
constituents to do what we can to keep our children and all
Ohioans safe from gun violence. Commonsense safety measures
like these, along with closing the gun show loophole and
requiring universal background checks, will help us restore
the promise of stronger neighborhoods and communities where
you can feel safe raising a family." -Rep. Erica Crawley
(D-Columbus)
"It is far too common that I
hear of lives lost to gun violence in my district. As
legislators, it is our duty to make our state a safer place
to live, work and raise a family. We cannot continue to
stand by as innocent people die because of a lack of
commonsense gun safety measures. It is my hope that with a
renewed focus on bipartisanship, we can come together to
work on these issues to deliver real results to Ohioans."
-Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton)
"We owe it to Ohio's
families and children to ensure that those exercising their
second amendment rights are doing so responsibly. The vast
majority of Ohioans agree that anyone carrying a deadly
firearm should be able to pass a background check and be
properly trained. The measures brought forward today by my
Democratic colleagues are straightforward steps towards a
safer Ohio." - Rep. Joe Miller (D-Amherst)
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