Rep. Brewer Responds to National Guard Deployment Proposal in Cleveland

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Darnell T. Brewer (D-Cleveland) today responded to recent calls for deploying the National Guard in Cleveland.

“As a state representative for a district that includes some of the most highlighted areas of concern around crime and gun violence, I agree with many of our federal and local leaders. This proposal is unnecessary, unserious, and flat-out counterproductive. One victim is too many, and we must focus on solutions that genuinely keep our communities safe, not performative measures that distract from the real work of preventing gun violence,” said Rep. Brewer. 

Instead, Rep. Brewer urged legislators to move forward with bills that would directly address the gun violence crisis in Ohio. One example is legislation that would allow municipalities to regulate firearm conduct within their jurisdiction. The bill was introduced last General Assembly as House Bill 218 and will soon be reintroduced by Rep. Brewer and Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland). This bill aims to repeal Ohio’s statewide firearms preemption law (Ohio Revised Code 9.68), which currently prevents cities and local jurisdictions from passing their own gun safety laws. As a result, communities are unable to customize laws to meet their specific needs. 

“This legislation is about restoring local control, empowering cities like Cleveland to take meaningful steps to protect residents,” said Rep. Brewer. “This bill was introduced last year and will be reintroduced because we know that what works in one city may not be enough for another. Communities deserve the right to act.”

In addition, Rep. Brewer called for the creation of a Gun Violence Task Force (House Bill 351), modeled after previous statewide task forces, such as the 1994 commission convened by then Lt. Governor Mike DeWine and the Nursing Home Quality Task Force. 

“This time, however, the table must include victims, advocates, educators, and community leaders,” added Rep. Brewer. “Ohioans deserve a forum where their voices, their pain, and their solutions can be heard directly. We must not just talk about ideas; we must act on solutions. And deploying the National Guard to Cleveland is not a feasible solution.”

These efforts are part of Rep. Brewer’s broader Community Safety and Solutions Agenda, which includes P.L.A.N. Ohio priorities. These pieces of legislation, several bipartisan, aim to: 

•  Prevent gun violence through education and safe storage;
• Listen to survivors, communities, and experts;
• Act with meaningful legislation; and
• Navigate resources for healing and safety.

“Deploying the National Guard is not a plan, it’s an evasion of responsibility,” concluded Rep. Brewer. “The people of Cleveland and Ohio deserve better. They deserve leadership that prioritizes their safety through action, accountability, and real solutions.”

Follow this link to see a copy of the Community Safety and Solutions Agenda.