Rep. Blackshear statement on second anniversary of Dayton shooting

State Rep. Willis Blackshear (D-Dayton) issued a statement Wednesday on the second anniversary of the shooting in Dayton’s Oregon District, which killed 9 and injured 17 others the night of August 4, 2019. Ohioans rallied together in the wake of the shooting, urging the governor and state lawmakers to “do something” to address gun violence in Ohio communities. 

“When we came together in the hours after the tragic shooting which forever changed the lives of so many in our community, we told our elected officials to ‘do something’ on gun violence. But here, two years later, nothing has changed. In fact, the only action we’ve taken is to make our kids and communities less safe by making Ohio a shoot first state,” said Rep. Blackshear. 

“Ensuring the safety and security of our communities is why many of us got into public service in the first place, but we’re doing a disservice to the folks in my district and to Ohioans across the state, the vast majority of whom want more—not less—gun safety. Enough is enough. Gun violence is on the rise in many parts of our state, and we have real, meaningful reforms like universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders and safe storage requirements sitting idly in committees without hearings. I’m not sure what Republican leaders are waiting for. Ohioans are ready for a change. They’re ready for action.”