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Leader Sykes statement on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Dayton shooting

Decries Republican inaction on commonsense gun safety
August 3, 2020
Democratic Newsroom

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio, which left nine dead and 17 wounded.

“Ohioans called on us to do something, but in the year since the shooting in Dayton, House Republicans have done nothing to prevent senseless gun violence. Ohio House Democrats remain committed to ending gun violence and making our communities, schools and public spaces safer for all Ohioans. We cannot afford more inaction as Ohioans continue to die from preventable violence and we owe it the victims, their families and the Dayton community to do something to prevent this from ever happening again. The overwhelming majority of Ohioans want more commonsense gun safety and Republicans have let them down.”

Democrats have continually pushed for commonsense gun reforms, including:

  • HB 240 (Miranda/Kelly): The Child Access Prevention Act, which would ensure firearms are stored safely and securely out of the reach of minors;
  • House Bill (HB) 316 (Russo/Sweeney): Extreme Risk Protection Orders;
  • HB 317 (Robinson/Miller): universal background checks;
  • HB 315 (Liston): Provide mental health and suicide prevention information at the purchase site;
  • HB 319 (West/Miller): Restore local control so that everyday Ohioans can decide what commonsense safety solutions work for their community;
  • HB 320 (West): Prohibit the sale of a gun if the background check is pending;
  • HB 335 (Lepore-Hagan/Boyd): Require subject of certain protection orders to surrender firearms;
  • HB 348 (Miller): Prohibit a person subject to a protection order from purchasing or receiving a firearm for the duration of the order;
  • HB 349 (Weinstein): Ban possession of high-capacity magazines;
  • HB 647 (Strahorn): Prohibits manufacture/sales of high capacity magazines;
  • HB 658 (Galonski): Train school employees if authorized to carry firearms in schools.

None of the Democratic gun safety bills have been called for a committee vote.

Meanwhile, House Republicans have prioritized legislation opponents say will make Ohioans less safe, including the kill at will bill and legislation to eliminate the duty to notify law enforcement of a concealed weapon, which passed the House in June.