Ohio Governor Pushes For Improved Firearm Background Checks

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is moving forward with plans to enhance Ohio's background check system for firearm purchases. In a package of legislation he's calling STRONG Ohio, DeWine is also pushing for an increase in arrests of wanted offenders and help preventing the sale of guns to people barred from owning firearms.

As part of the STRONG Ohio package, DeWine is asking state lawmakers to mandate the entry of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault protection orders into Ohio’s Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) systems within 48 hours of issuance. Other Tier I crimes will also be required to be entered into law enforcement background check systems.

There is currently no requirement for police departments to enter warrants and protection orders into federal or state databases like LEADS and NCIC. Less than half of Ohio's open arrest warrants have been entered into law enforcement databases.

“Our state and national background check systems are only as good as the data they hold, yet a great deal of vital information on dangerous individuals is missing from these systems,” said DeWine in a statement on Wednesday. “This lapse creates a substantial risk to the public, to victims, and to law enforcement officers who unknowingly encounter wanted suspects. It is time that Ohio takes action to fix this major flaw.”

DeWine is advocating for so-called "red flag" laws that allow police or family members to temporarily take guns from people who pose a threat to others or themselves. He's also pushing for stronger mental health services.

Firearm-rights advocates attacked portions of DeWine's STRONG Ohio package — particularly the "red flag" portions and the sections mandating background checks even on person-to-person gun sales — but largely supported his proposed improvements to the background check system.

"Buckeye Firearms Association agrees that the background check system is broken and supports the concept of enforcing current law rather than passing new laws for background checks. Gun rights advocates and the entire gun industry have long supported fixing the system to include state criminal and mental health records," the organization said in a statement.

DeWine's administration is also developing technology to speed up the entering of data from warrants. Once created, that technology will be shared with statewide agencies and local police departments, the administration said.

“Our goal is to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals and dangerous people without infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “But the current background system that is supposed to prevent people who’ve committed violent crimes from purchasing guns often doesn’t work, and we’re going to fix it.”