The Latest Ohio Gun Legislation Signals Necessity to Increase Voter Turnout
On March 14, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an alarming bill into law that reinforces the necessity to increase voter turnout of Democrats in the 2022 midterms. Ninety days from its signing date, “constitutional carry,” aka Senate Bill 215, will go into effect across the state of Ohio. Ohio will become the 23rd state in the country to enact such a law, recanting previous training and background check requirements for individuals to conceal carry a firearm.
The law passed both the House and Senate chambers with overwhelming support from the Republican supermajority, leading the legislation directly to DeWine’s desk, which only took him a matter of days to sign, despite the redistricting mess. The bill passed in the House 58-37, with only Republicans in support, then the Senate, 24-9, where all Democrats voted against the bill. Supporters of the bill say it’s an “extension of the Second Amendment.” At the same time, it is a ridiculous extension of the law that will only place guns in the hands of untrained, possibly dangerous citizens of the state.
Senate Bill 215 will eliminate rules that previously came with concealed carry. Folks no longer have to take the 8-hour training course required, there is no background check, and no permit is needed. Those choosing to carry can now do so without any sort of paperwork, acknowledgment, etc. Essentially, the bill allows anyone over 21, who can otherwise legally obtain a firearm, the ability to carry a concealed handgun into public spaces, unless otherwise stated. Additionally, if the police pull over a driver, that person is no longer required to inform officers of concealed carry weapons unless asked by an officer.
Between 3,000 and 5,000 of concealed carry applicants are rejected every year. Reasons for rejection include felony or misdemeanor convictions being a subject of a civil protection order, among others. SB 215 now grants these folks the ability to carry a weapon, putting the general public in harm’s way. House Minority Leader Allison Russo was a critic of DeWine’s actions, citing this issue in particular. She stated thousands of permits are denied, revoked, and suspended each year. “Removing these reasonable precautions compromises our communities’ safety and security and law enforcement, betraying Ohioans who have called for commonsense gun legislation. Republicans made it clear they value the approval of the gun lobby over the lives of Ohioans.”
The state has seen a rise in gun-related deaths over the last decade, with a huge spike in 2020. The Ohio Capital-Journal reports that, between 1999 and 2020, Ohio saw a 123% increase in homicides and 49% increase in suicides, with the prevalence of guns becoming steadier in each instance. The Friday before DeWine signed the bill, two people were killed four more people wounded in separate homicide incidents, not including a shooting on I-71 that involved three vehicles and a police chase. Another statistic to note, 91% of the 205 people killed in Columbus last year involved gun violence. Gun violence has since been declared a public health crisis in the city. Additionally, the American Journal of Public Health found that states with looser concealed carry regulations saw an associated 11% increase in handgun homicide rates and a 9% increase in firearm homicide rates. We can, unfortunately, expect to see a rise in this when SB 215 becomes an active law.
Many members of the community statewide have spoken out against this law from the early stages of creation. Police officers and local officials alike urged DeWine not to sign the bill. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Whaley was mayor of Dayton when the city was rocked by a mass shooting in 2019. Whaley quotes, “After a mass shooting in Dayton, Gov. DeWine promised to do something to reduce gun violence. At every turn, he’s broken that promise. Signing this bill will make everyone in our communities, including our police officers, less safe. DeWine’s decision to sign this dangerous bill is shameless and disgraceful.”
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) also came out in strong opposition of the bill and its creation. Their main concern is that the bill makes being a police officer harder, with the potential for more officers to be shot in the line of duty. The current punishment of failure to disclose you are armed carries a six-month jail sentence and a heavy fine. Officers of the police union express the importance of knowing if someone has a firearm. The FOP President explained the stance by saying officers should know whether a person they are approaching is armed. There’s no reason a law-abiding citizen should withhold the fact they are concealed carry permit holders. Clearly, the new laws outlined in Senate Bill 215 are anti-public safety.
Governor DeWine put the state of Ohio in serious danger by signing SB 215 into law. Community members, leaders and officials, and even police officers have spoken out against this wild act of negligence to safety. There is no reason to carry a gun into a public setting, especially without a background check or proper training and permits.
It is now more important than ever to elect democrats who understand the importance of commonsense gun laws. Rideshare2Vote will be in Ohio for the 2022 midterms to help increase voter participation and elect Democrats up and down the ballot. We welcome new volunteers to help us elect leaders who value the safety of citizens.
by Heather Tingley
