‘When will enough be enough?’ Ohio House Democrats introduce ‘common sense gun legislation’

Ohio House Democrats say they are trying to enact common sense gun laws, but face an uphill battle in the Republican supermajority-controlled Ohio Statehouse.

Democratic lawmakers have introduced a series of gun-related bills so far this General Assembly that have seen little, if any movement. The one bill that has had a hearing so far is a bipartisan bill. 

“Republicans are focused on passing laws that they hope will distract you from their failures, while at the same time trying to divide us on common sense issues like gun reform,” Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, said Tuesday during a press conference. “Ohio Democrats will not stand idly by while Republicans in power refuse to do something about gun violence.”

Ohio had 571 gun-related deaths and over 1,700 incidents of gun violence in 2024, said state Rep. Darnell T. Brewer, D-Cleveland. 

Ohio ranks 21st in the nation for gun violence and gun deaths rose 42% in Ohio from 2013 to 2022, said state Rep. Cecil Thomas, D-Cincinnati. 

More than 1,000 Ohioans aged 19 and younger died as a result of gun violence in the last decade, according to the Children’s Defense Fund. 

“When will enough be enough?” Thomas asked. “How many children have to die before you act? How many women have to be shot by their partners? How many funerals will it take before this legislation does its job? How many other officers have to be shot before we do something?”

Gun-related bills introduced so far by Democratic lawmakers include — 

• House Bill 45 — Prohibit certain firearm transfers without a background check was introduced by Thomas and state Rep. Rachel Baker, D-Cincinnati, in February, but has had no committee hearings in the House Public Safety Committee. 
• House Bill 46 — Enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act was introduced by Thomas and state Rep. Michele Grim, D-Toledo, in February, but it has had no hearings so far in the House Public Safety Committee. 
• House Bill 120 — Exempt from sales and use tax sales of firearm safety devices was introduced by Brewer and state Rep. Jennifer Gross, R-West Chester, in February and has had sponsor testimony in the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee. 
• House Bill 235, Authorize tax credit for handgun training and firearms storage was introduced by Brewer and state Rep. Meredith R. Lawson-Rowe, D-Reynoldsburg, in April, but it has had no hearings so far in the House Ways and Means Committee. 

Brewer said he is introducing the community safety solution agenda which includes: 

• A resolution to encourage responsible gun ownership by promoting safe storage practices to prevent children from accessing guns. 
• A resolution on safe firearm storage education. 
• The safe play act that would create a grant program through the state’s unclaimed funds to help communities build safe playgrounds. 
• Close the boyfriend loophole act which prevents individuals convicted of dating violence or under protection order from possessing firearms. 
• An act that would create comprehensive grants for cities that declare gun violence a public health crisis. 

“We do not seek to outlaw guns, rather, we want to offer common sense regulations and publicize safe responsible ownership of guns,” Lawson-Rowe said. 

This summer will mark six years since a mass shooting in Dayton killed nine people and more pro-gun laws have since taken effect in the state. 

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law in 2022 that got rid of all training, background check and permitting requirements to carry a concealed weapon. A 2021 law no longer requires people to retreat before they can justifiably hurt or kill someone with a gun in self-defense.  

“What we need now is the political will, something that unfortunately continues to be absent from the Republican-controlled legislature,” said state Rep. Michele Grim, D-Toledo. 

Russo said she wouldn’t be surprised if Ohioans try to pass a ballot initiative addressing gun violence and common sense reforms.

“I’m not aware of current efforts to do that, but you know, given how out of line this legislature is the public on this issue, and the lack of action on this issue, it wouldn’t be surprising to see that perhaps in the next couple of years,” she said. 

Ohioans did that in 2023 by voting to enshrine abortion and reproductive rights in the state’s constitution. 

“Gun violence has no place in our state and in our communities,” Russo said. “People deserve better. Our children deserve better.” 

State Rep. Karen Brownlee, D-Symmes Twp., shared stories of gun violence she heard from children when she worked as a mental health therapist. 

“A sibling group aged six to 13 running home from the bus stop to avoid a shooting in the middle of their residential neighborhood,” she said. “A six-year-old accidentally shooting his three-year-old brother to death with a gun left on the coffee table.” 

These kids would ask her how to stay safe around guns. 

“Sadly, the conversations ended with me explaining that Ohio laws protect guns more than they protect people,” Brownlee said. “We are fighting against a powerful gun lobby which is more interested in sales than citizens.”

A new study from George Washington University showed more than 7,000 children died from firearm related injuries since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to set their own gun laws.

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