Ohio Governor Introduces Gun Violence Prevention Legislation

COLUMBUS, OH — This week, Governor Mike DeWine introduced a package of legislative proposals he hopes will reduce gun violence in Ohio. Much of the legislation is focused on treating mental health and tightening existing firearm legislation.

Called the "STRONG Ohio" bill, the package of legislative proposals is designed to walk a tight rope, appealing to both gun-rights advocates and gun-violence prevention advocates.

“Nothing we are doing places new restrictions on a law-abiding citizen from owning a gun,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “These proposals are focused on keeping guns out of the hands of people who are prevented from owning a gun by enhancing law enforcement’s ability to enforce current law.”

The legislation specifically would:

• Ensure anyone declared a danger to themselves or others by a judge do not have access to firearms
• Create a process in Ohio law to direct those suffering from severe mental health issues into court-ordered treatment and to help hospitals and courts better declare those individuals a danger to themselves or others
• Give family members of mentally ill individuals an easier path to petitioning a court for ordered treatment
• Mandate law enforcement enter protection orders and arrest warrants for serious crimes into state and federal law enforcement databases to ensure accurate background checks
• Create a new private-sale background check process which will increase the number of background checks done in Ohio
• Create a legal safe harbor for gun sellers who need private-sale background checks
• Increase penalties for people who sell firearms to people prohibited from having a gun
• Increase penalties for selling guns to minors, having a gun when legally barred from having a firearm, and for straw purchases of firearms
• Give judges more sentencing options for felony cases in which a gun was brandished

The Buckeye Firearms Association said it was glad DeWine and his administration appear to have dropped their focus on so-called "red flag" laws which give courts the right to take firearms out of certain people's hands.

"We have said for years that we need to focus on mental health and enforce current law,” said Dean Rieck, executive director, Buckeye Firearms Association.

The Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence group expressed concern over DeWine's plan, arguing it focused too much on increasing punishments and not on prevention. "Our concern is that mental illness is not the cause of gun violence and the mental health professionals should drive the needs and solutions," the group said in a public letter to the governor.

The bill was sponsored by State Senator Matt Dolan, a Republican from Chagrin Falls. He argued the criticism likely to come from both sides of the gun debate was a good sign for the legislation.

“I understand that this bill probably doesn’t go far enough for some and too far for others. That said, this bill needs and should pass with bi-partisan support,” said Dolan. “The victims of gun violence deserve action, and a society fearful of future violence can be crippling. This bill addresses these concerns and will help make Ohio safer.”

The full text of the STRONG Ohio legislation package has been shared online.