Tighten It Up

Lax gun laws in Ohio make it easier for criminals and mentally ill individuals to get their hands on guns. As Mayor Michael B. Coleman says, “Let’s tighten it up.”

When Mayor Coleman was growing up, his mother worked as a criminal victim’s activist. Now one of his sons is a Columbus police officer. When I spoke with the Mayor the other day, he told me every time someone dies from gun violence in Columbus, he feels it on a personal level. He cares about the well being of the city he’s responsible for and public safety is a top priority for him. His concern with gun violence is also rooted in his dedication to making Columbus  prosper financially. He told me that in order for people to want to start businesses here, and to move businesses here, they have to know that Columbus is going to be a safe city that will continue to attract talented employees and active customers.

and Mayor Michael B. Coleman 

Since its inception in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 mayors to more than 650 mayors from across the country. The bipartisan coalition has united the nation’s mayors around these common goals: protecting their communities by holding gun offenders accountable; demanding access to trace data that is critical to law enforcement efforts to combat illegal gun trafficking; and working with legislators to fix gaps, weaknesses and loopholes in the law that make it far too easy for criminals and other prohibited purchasers to get guns.

Last month the Ohio chapter of Mayors Against Illegal Guns grew to over 100 Mayor members, making it one of the largest state chapters in the nation. Credit for leadership of this effort rests in large part with Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman. I spoke with him on camera in honor of the occasion.

As you heard in the video, . Like most people in Ohio, and I’m strongly opposed to unsafe, reckless gun laws. I support responsible gun policies that will make our country safer.

Right now, criminals can walk into an Ohio gun show and buy an unlimited number of guns from a private seller with no background check and no questions asked. That’s exactly what happened in Columbus, when Nathaniel Brown, a convicted felon, obtained a gun that had been sold at an Ohio gun show with no background check. He used that gun to shoot two coworkers in 2010 before turning the gun on himself. If the Ohio legislature had closed this loophole, Brown’s gun purchase would have been denied.

After the shooting, Ohio State Rep. Tracy Heard introduced a bill (H.B. 263) requiring a background check for all firearm sales at gun shows. However, the House of Representatives has not held a single hearing on this important legislation. A hearing would give mayors and police officers an opportunity to express support for this bill, helping build the momentum we need to close the gun show loophole in Ohio.

Please call Committee Chairman Rex Damschroder today and ask him to hold a hearing on H.B. 263 immediately.

Rep. Rex Damschroder – 614- 466-1374

Once you’ve been connected, let him know:

• You’re a resident of Ohio
• You support closing the gun show loophole, require background checks for all firearm sales at gun shows
• You encourage the Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee to hold a hearing on H.B. 263 immediately

Story, photos and video by
Follow: 
Contact: