In wake of Texas shooting Galonski urges more gun safety protections

State Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) today decried House Republican leadership’s decision to schedule committee hearings for four Republican-sponsored gun expansion bills while stalling hearings on previously introduced Democratic gun safety legislation.

“We have legislation that offers a more holistic approach to commonsense gun safety,” said Galonski. “But instead of keeping guns out the hands of criminals or people with mental illness, Ohio Republicans want to put more guns in more public places and give people more legal protection to use deadly force.”

Earlier this year, Rep. West (D-Canton) introduced House Bill (HB) 563, which would prohibit transferring firearms while a background check is pending, HB 564, which would require a 72-hour waiting period after buying a firearm, and HB 599, which would restore local authority to control firearms. 

In the House Federalism and Interstate Relations Committee, HB 622 introduced by Rep. Rick Perales (R-Beavercreek), Substitute HB 228 introduced by Rep. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) and Rep. Sarah LaTourette (R-Chesterland) and Substitute Senate Bill 208 introduced by Sen. Louis Terhar (R-Cincinnati) will be receiving hearings today at 4:00 p.m. in Room 115 at the Statehouse. The fourth bill, HB 585 introduced by Rep. Michael Henne (R-Clayton), will be heard in the House State and Local Government Committee on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. in Room 114 at the Statehouse.

“Each of these bills fail to get to the root of the gun safety problem our country is facing. Ohio needs to take the lead and enact common sense gun safety legislation that upholds the Second Amendment and ensures our citizens are protected from undue harm,” said Galonski. “Furthermore, I fully support the legislation that Rep. West has introduced concerning Ohio gun laws and urge this leadership to put it on the calendar. I find his legislation to be thoughtful, reasonable and still adhering to the Second Amendment. It’s unfortunate that Republican lawmakers are simply pushing this issue to the side instead of reaching across the aisle for support and thoughtful discussion.”

Rep. West’s bills are still waiting to have their first respective committee hearings.