COLUMBUS, Ohio _ Ahead of the mass shooting outside a Dayton bar that killed nine people, the Republican-ruled Ohio General Assembly has shown no appetite to consider legislation addressing gun violence.
While lawmakers are moving on a bill to allow any law-abiding adult to carry a gun without a concealed-carry permit, no Republican-backed legislation to modify Ohioans' access to guns has been introduced.
Like frustrated former GOP Gov. John Kasich, first-year Republican Gov. Mike DeWine supports so-called "red flag" legislation to allow a judge to order the temporary removal of guns from a person found to be a danger to himself or others.
However, DeWine's proposal, which drew the ire of some gun owners, has yet to surface in the form of a bill. As a U.S House member, DeWine voted for the since-rescinded assault weapons ban and other gun control measures, but later changed his stance, saying they were ineffective.
Kasich left office in January infuriated that lawmakers failed to enact a "red-flag" law and move on other gun violence proposals that he considered common sense.
"For the first time in my lifetime, the possibility of somebody coming through that door and shooting us exists. And we can't do anything due to rotten, stinking politics," Kasich said.
Minority Democrat lawmakers have made attempts to restrict gun sales, limit the capacity of gun magazines and take other steps, but have gained no traction amid Republicans' pro-gun stance.
Republican House members appear to strongly support a bill, as does DeWine, to allow most Ohioans to carry a handgun without requiring firearms training and a county-issued concealed carry permit. The bill was recommended for passage by one House committee, but House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, has moved it to another committee for more hearings.
Meanwhile, a group dubbed Ohioans for Gun Safety is attempting to gather about 135,000 signatures to force lawmakers to consider a bill to effectively require background checks on all gun sales. If the General Assembly failed to act, another successful round of signature gathering would send the measure to a public vote on the ballot.
Gun-rights supporters still are seeking passage of a "stand-your-ground" bill removing the duty to retreat, if possible, before using a gun in self-defense in response to a threat of violence. Kasich vetoed such a bill late last year.
In a Sunday morning statement, DeWine said he was "absolutely heartbroken over the horrible attack" in Dayton. He offered his prayers to the victims and their families and state assistance to Mayor Nan Whaley.
Senate President Larry Obhof, R-Medina, said: "Our deepest sympathy goes to the families of those killed and wounded in this cowardly attack.
Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, said, "I am praying for the victims, their families and the Dayton community, but it's time for more than prayer. We, as lawmakers, must act to save more lifes from being lost to gun violence."
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, sounded a similar sentiment. "We are still learning about the attack in Dayton and we don't know exactly what, if anything, could have prevented this specific tragedy. But we know thoughts and prayers are not enough, we have a responsibility to act."
In a tweet, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, wrote, "I went to bed with a heavy heart because of #ElPaso and woke up to the tragic news from #Dayton. These senseless acts of violence must stop."
Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes, D-Akron, said in a statement, "So as Ohioans gather for prayer this Sunday morning, let our collective voices and actions be amplified as one _ this senseless violence must end,"
Ohio's gun-death rate in 2017 was the highest since state-by-state numbers were compiled beginning in 1999, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of the 1,589 gun deaths in Ohio that year, 918 were by suicide, and 621 were homicides. In addition, 19 people died in accidental shootings, and 21 died from "legal intervention" _ shootings by police. Ten gun deaths were unclassified. Ohio's homicide gun-death rate was 18% higher than national rate of 4.5 deaths per 100,000 population.
