On Tuesday, Ohio senators will hold hearings on gun legislation including:
- SB 183, bipartisan legislation that would require background checks on all gun sales, with reasonable exceptions.
- SB 184, bipartisan Red Flag legislation that would permit immediate family members and law enforcement officers to petition a court for an order temporarily removing guns from people who are at risk of harming themselves or others.
More information about each policy is below, and information debunking common myths about background checks is here. Ohio Moms Demand Action volunteers are also available for interviews ahead of Tuesday’s hearing.
RED FLAG OR EXTREME RISK LAWS
In the aftermath of Sunday morning’s mass shooting in Dayton, reports emerged that the shooter’s behavior raised concerns among people who knew him. This reporting underscored the case for Extreme Risk or Red Flag laws, which 12 states have enacted since last year’s mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. Five of these new laws have been signed by Republican governors.
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.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.