Everytown for Gun Safety Assisting City of Columbus in Legal Defense of Gun Safety Ordinances

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Everytown for Gun Safety, the country’s largest gun violence prevention organization, today announced its litigation team is providing pro bono litigation support to the city of Columbus in defending a legal challenge to the city’s newly enacted gun safety ordinances.

In May, the city adopted four new gun safety ordinances, including a measure that prohibits bump stocks and a measure that prohibits people with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions from possessing guns. Federal law already prohibits many domestic abusers from having guns. But unlike most states, Ohio does not have a matching state-level law, and Ohio law enforcement cannot take meaningful action to protect women and families from abusers with guns.

Opponents of these ordinances filed a lawsuit last week claiming they are preempted by state law, and Everytown announced today it will be co-counsel with the City Attorney in defending the city’s authority to act to protect its citizens against gun violence by enacting ordinances that fall outside the scope of the state’s preemption law. The city’s response opposing the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction will be filed Friday.

STATEMENT FROM ERIC TIRSCHWELL, LITIGATION DIRECTOR FOR EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY:

“We welcome the opportunity to stand side by side with Columbus and the City Attorney in defending the city’s legal authority to enact and enforce gun safety ordinances consistent with state law.”

STATEMENT FROM ZACH KLEIN, COLUMBUS CITY ATTORNEY:

“Everytown is well known for their commitment to working to reduce gun violence in communities all across America. Their offer to join our team on a pro-bono basis will help us best utilize all available resources as we work to vigorously defend the laws we carefully crafted just a few months ago. We welcome their support and look forward to working hand in hand with their team.”