A List of Ohio Republicans Backing Gun Safety Laws After the Dayton Mass Shooting

In recent days, a number of Ohio Republicans have spoken out about the need to strengthen gun laws, including:

• Gov. Mike Dewine, who has called on the Ohio legislature to require criminal background checks on all gun sales and pass Red Flag legislation 
• U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, who expressed support for Red Flag legislation
• U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, who backed Red Flag legislation and other gun safety reforms
• Ohio Sen. President Larry Obhof, who said Red Flag legislation is “an issue we can look at and might be able to work through” and who expressed openness to considering such a policy prior to the shooting as well
• Ohio Sen. Peggy Lehner, who represents a district adjacent to Dayton and who said it was “time for all of us to stand up.”

RED FLAG OR EXTREME RISK LAWS

In the aftermath of Sunday morning’s mass shooting in Dayton, reports are emerging that the shooter’s behavior raised concerns among people who knew him. This reporting underscores the case for Extreme Risk or Red Flag laws, which 12 states have enacted since last year’s mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. Five of these new laws have been signed by Republican governors.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

A recent report showed that in 2018 alone, there were as many as 127,524 ads on Armslist.com offering guns for sale in Ohio with no background check required.

Under current federal law, background checks are required only for gun sales by licensed firearm dealers. No background check is required for sales by unlicensed individuals, who can sell guns to strangers they meet online or at gun shows – with no background check, no questions asked, and no way to know whether the buyer is a criminal or otherwise prohibited from having guns.15 states and the District of Columbia have closed this loophole by enacting laws requiring background checks on all gun sales. Ohio has not.