“We should all be sick and tired of picking up the newspaper and seeing the things that we see literally every single day — our fellow Ohioans injured or killed through senseless violence,” DeWine said on Oct. 6, noting at least 42 people had been shot in the past week and more than half died. He’s made similar points Tuesday after Tuesday.
So far, Republican leaders remain cool to DeWine’s pleas. House Speaker Bob Cupp, a Lima Republican, said last week there are concerns the legislation would impinge on gun owners’ constitutional rights. He said he doesn’t think there’s enough time left this session to give the issue the “great deal of study and balance” that it requires.
GOP Senate President Larry Obhof says he’s open to discussion, while noting the Legislature has already dealt with some aspects of the governor’s wish list. For example, a Senate-passed bill that would expand access to state psychiatric hospitals for the seriously mentally ill is now pending in the House.
Democrats, in the minority in both chambers, favor some of DeWine’s concepts but don’t have the numbers to help the measure pass. And some felt the governor didn’t go far enough, such as including a “red flag” law to restrict firearms for people perceived as threats.
– Andrew Welsh-Huggin in Ohio governor pleads for legislative action on gun violence