News
Gun Control Measures Still A Long Way Off With New Speaker
By: Andy Chow | Statehouse News Bureau
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The Ohio House is preparing to strip away more gun regulations making it easier to use lethal force in self-defense. This comes as the new House leader said Republican members aren’t close to approving new gun control measures.
The gun control bill, which has just a single Republican sponsor, would prohibit people with a history of domestic violence from owning guns and allow guns to be seized from people showing signs of violence – among other things.
New Republican House Speaker Ryan Smith said he takes the issue of gun violence seriously, but doesn’t believe gun control laws work.
“There’s no gun law in America that’s going to stop a lot of this,” he said. “I mean, criminals don’t abide by the law by their very nature. So it’s not to say that we’re insensitive to it or don’t want to do something on it, it’s just people are very protective of the Second Amendment.”
He’ll ask his caucus if there’s any middle ground on other provisions.
Gov. John Kasich backed what he called these common-sense reforms after the fatal high school shooting in Parkland, Florida.