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Ohio Moms Demand Action, Everytown Urge Ohio Legislature to Require Background Checks on All Gun Sales and Pass Life-saving Extreme Risk Legislation

8.6.2019

Since Sunday’s Mass Shooting in Dayton, Ohio Senate President Obhof Has Said It’s “An Issue We Can Look At”

Ohio Sen. Lehner, Who Represents District Adjacent to Dayton, Has Called Policy “One of The Most Obvious Things” To Do

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after Gov. Mike DeWine called on the Ohio legislature to pass legislation requiring background checks on all gun sales, with reasonable exceptions, as well as Extreme Risk legislation, also known as a Red Flag law.

“Across party lines, Ohioans want our lawmakers to work together to improve public safety, and we’re grateful the governor is listening,” said Susie Lane, volunteer leader with the Ohio chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Today was an important an important step forward, and now it’s the legislature’s turn. We’ll be doing all we can to show lawmakers the overwhelming support across Ohio’s political spectrum for these sensible, life-saving policies.”

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.

EXTREME RISK LAWS

Twelve states have enacted Red Flag laws since last year’s mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., and five of these new laws have been signed by Republican governors. In addition to the District of Columbia, 17 states have now enacted Red Flag laws, including Colorado, Nevada, Indiana, and Florida.

Red Flag laws, also known as Extreme Risk laws, permit immediate family members and law enforcement officers to petition a court for an order, often known as an extreme risk protection order, temporarily removing guns from dangerous situations. If a court finds that a person poses a serious risk of injuring themselves or others with a firearm, that person is temporarily prohibited from purchasing and possessing guns, and any guns they already own are held by law enforcement or another authorized party while the order is in effect.

Perpetrators of mass shootings and school shootings often display warning signs before committing violent acts. Interventions in states with Red Flag laws have already prevented these potential tragedies. Research has also documented the impact Red Flag laws can have preventing suicides.