State of Ohio Archives: on Gun Control


JD Vance: Grandmother gave tough love, discipline; owned 19 handguns

Turbulence was common at home and at school. JD's father left home when he was a young boy. His mother struggled with drug addiction his entire life. His grandmother, called Mamaw, was his saving grace. Her tough love and discipline kept him on the straight and narrow. That, or maybe the fact that she owned 19 handguns. She taught him the importance of being grounded in faith and family and the prospect that a better life lay ahead.
Source: 2021 Ohio Senate campaign website JDVance.com Jul 4, 2021

Bernie Moreno: Protect 2nd Amendment and the entire Constitution

I believe that our 2nd Amendment-- and the entire constitution--must be protected.
Source: 2021 Ohio Senate campaign website BernieMoreno.com Apr 19, 2021

Nan Whaley: Opposed "Stand Your Ground" bill enacted after shooting

The legislature passed a "Stand Your Ground" bill which eliminated the duty to retreat in the face of possible gunfire. Whaley were enraged when DeWine signed it into law. "I know people in Dayton feel betrayed,'' Whaley told me. "I feel incredibly disappointed. He caved into the pro-gun lobby and the legislators of his own party who passed this bill. You cannot sign that bill and then say you will work to enact real gun reforms."
Source: WVXU 91.7 FM on 2022 Ohio Governor race Mar 26, 2021

Nan Whaley: Heal after Dayton shooting; but #DoSomething on gun control

You probably had never heard of Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley before last weekend's mass shooting in her city. The tragedy has thrust Whaley into headlines worldwide. She's gained 25,000 new Twitter followers this week. Whaley has shined in a dark moment, leading her city, hitting all the right rhetorical tones and gracefully handling criticism from President Trump. The FBI announced that it had uncovered a violent ideology, but had not found evidence to suggest the shooting was racially motivated.

Whaley has called on Trump and Republicans to do something about gun control, but she's not been disrespectful or used inflammatory rhetoric. As gun-reform advocates shouted down Gov. Mike DeWine during a vigil, Whaley took the mic and asked everyone to chill out. "We are here to heal tonight," Whaley said.

[Trump visited Dayton and criticized Whaley, who responded], "the victims and first responders were comforted by his presence. Let's hope he actually does something on gun control. #DoSomething"

Source: Cincinnati Enquirer on 2022 Ohio Senate race Aug 8, 2019

Jim Renacci: No ban on assault weapons nor high capacity magazines

Q: Support more restrictive gun control legislation?

Sherrod Brown (D): Yes. Ban assault weapons & high-capacity magazines, expand background checks & raise age to 21.

Jim Renacci (R): No. Opposes bans on assault weapons & high capacity magazines & expanded background checks.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Mike DeWine: Supports stand-your-ground; opposes bump stock ban

Q: Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?

Richard Cordray (D): Previous history of opposing restriction. Supports universal background checks & bump stock ban. Opposes assault weapons ban.

Mike DeWine (R): More previous support for restrictions. Now supports "stand your ground" law, opposes banning bump stocks or assault weapons. Would let judges seize guns from people at risk.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Richard Cordray: Universal background checks & bump stock ban

Q: Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?

Richard Cordray (D): Previous history of opposing restriction. Supports universal background checks & bump stock ban. Opposes assault weapons ban.

Mike DeWine (R): More previous support for restrictions. Now supports "stand your ground" law, opposes banning bump stocks or assault weapons. Would let judges seize guns from people at risk.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Sherrod Brown: Ban on assault weapons & high capacity magazines

Q: Support more restrictive gun control legislation?

Sherrod Brown (D): Yes. Ban assault weapons & high-capacity magazines, expand background checks & raise age to 21.

Jim Renacci (R): No. Opposes bans on assault weapons & high capacity magazines & expanded background checks.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Mike Gibbons: Absolute right to gun ownership

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Absolute right to gun ownership"?

A: Strongly support

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Ohio Senate candidate Apr 24, 2018

Richard Cordray: Wants gun control laws at both state and local levels

Several cities are considering legislation on guns if state lawmakers don't pass gun law reforms--despite a state law that prevents them from passing stricter laws. As state AG, Corday defended the law all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court. Now Cordray seems to imply there is daylight between that law and local ordinances. "I think that communities can pass their laws, and the state legislature will pass its laws," Cordray said. "I do believe in home rule. It's part of our constitution."
Source: WOSU National Public Radio on 2018 Ohio gubernatorial race Mar 23, 2018

Mike Gibbons: God-given right to keep and bear arms

I believe strongly in our Second Amendment rights, and I will work to protect those rights from those who would try to limit in any way our ability to protect ourselves. Our Founders wrote the Second Amendment to protect our God-given right to keep and bear arms. The Second Amendment isn't about hunting, it's about our ability to stand up and defend ourselves. A lifelong member of the NRA, I will never waver in my support of our Second Amendment rights.
Source: 2018 Ohio Senatorial website GibbonsForOhio.com Oct 15, 2017

Jon Husted: Spearheaded comprehensive reform to concealed carry law

Jon Husted is the only Ohio statewide elected official with an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA). As House Speaker, Jon spearheaded the passage of comprehensive reform to Ohio's concealed carry laws in order to protect law-abiding gun owners. After the bill was vetoed, Jon stood up to the governor of his own party and courageously led the House's vote to override the veto. No gubernatorial veto has been overridden since.
Source: 2018 Ohio gubernatorial website, JonHusted.com Jul 15, 2017

Jon Husted: Endorsed by gun group, supports "right to protect"

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted's gubernatorial campaign was endorsed today by Ohioans for Concealed Carry.

Husted said he led a gubernatorial override of Ohio's Concealed Carry law for the first time since the 1950s. "Law-abiding citizens have the right to protect themselves, their family and their property," Husted said.

Source: US News & World Report on 2018 Ohio gubernatorial race May 24, 2017

Ted Strickland: Supports background checks; close terror watchlist loophole

Q: What kinds of gun safety regulations should be passed into law?

Strickland: Like many Americans, I have been deeply troubled and saddened by the escalation of violence in our country--we must do more to keep weapons out of the hands of those who would do harm. We should be implementing commonsense and effective ideas to reduce gun violence, like ensuring background checks are conducted on all gun sales and closing the loophole allowing those on the terror watch list to buy guns. I believe these proposals are consistent with our Second Amendment rights and are the most effective ways to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals, terrorists and those with legitimate mental illnesses. Unfortunately, Senator Portman voted against both of these proposals. I also support passage of the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act so that gun manufacturers can no longer hide behind a legal shield that gives them protections from liability enjoyed by virtually no other industry.

Source: Vote411.org League of Women Voters on 2016 Ohio Senate Race Sep 19, 2016

Ted Strickland: 2010: Pro-gun & NRA endorsed; 2016: end gun epidemic

In Ohio, the quintessential presidential battleground, Democrat Ted Strickland campaigned as pro-gun in 2010 when he was running for reelection as governor. He even got the NRA endorsement over John Kasich. Six years later, he's his party's nominee against Republican Sen. Rob Portman and sounding a different tune: "I grew up in rural Appalachia, and I believe in the Second Amendment," Strickland writes. "My creator also gave me eyes & ears, a heart & brain--and the capacity to use all of them to assess the challenges facing our country. There is no denying that America is facing a pressing and heartbreaking epidemic of gun violence. The victims have been school children, moviegoers, parishioners and now dancers at a nightclub. Our leaders in Washington like Senator Portman are not taking simple, commonsense steps to keep weapons out of the hands of those who would do us harm."
Source: Washington Post on 2016 Ohio Senate race Jun 20, 2016

P.G. Sittenfeld: We need Senators who'll stand up to extreme gun lobby

P.G. Sittenfeld took a jab at Ted Strickland for refusing to "renounce" the˙National Rifle Association. Sittenfeld criticized both Strickland and incumbent Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) for doing the "bidding" of the NRA:

"Gun safety is absolutely a top issue. Still waiting on Ted Strickland & Rob Portman to renounce their NRA support," Sittenfeld wrote on Twitter. Commenting on the presidential debate: "Glad to hear Hillary thinks the candidate with the 'D-' NRA rating isn't tough enough on guns. I'm running against two candidates with 'A' ratings. What having an A+ rating from the NRA means is that you do their bidding. We need Senators who aren't afraid to stand up to extreme gun lobby," Sittenfeld tweeted.

Strickland received an A+ rating from the NRA during his failed 2010 campaign against John Kasich. Though Strickland went on to work for the Center for American Progress, which is decidedly anti-gun, he has yet to, as Sittenfeld stated, "renounce" his pro-gun voting record in Congress.

Source: The Free Beacon on 2016 Ohio Senate race Oct 14, 2015

Ted Strickland: OpEd: Worked for anti-gun group, but never renounced NRA

P.G. Sittenfeld took a jab at Ted Strickland for refusing to "renounce" the˙National Rifle Association. Sittenfeld criticized both Strickland and incumbent Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) for doing the "bidding" of the NRA:

"Gun safety is absolutely a top issue. Still waiting on Ted Strickland & Rob Portman to renounce their NRA support," Sittenfeld wrote on Twitter.

Strickland received an A+ rating from the NRA during his failed 2010 re-election campaign against John Kasich. "Our members will interpret your 'A+' rating and endorsement as an indication that you are a pro-Second Amendment, pro-hunting candidate who supports sportsmen and gun-owners on every issue," the˙chair of the NRA's Political Victory Fund wrote to Strickland in a letter at the time.

Though Strickland went on to work for the Center for American Progress, which is decidedly anti-gun, he has yet to, as Sittenfeld stated, "renounce" his pro-gun voting record in Congress.

Source: The Free Beacon on 2016 Ohio Senate race Oct 14, 2015

P.G. Sittenfeld: We have more mass murders because we have more guns

Let me ask you: Why does America experience more gun-related mass murders than any other industrialized nation in the world? Is it because we are inherently more violent, or because we have more people who are mentally ill?

No--it's not. Nor can we blame violent movies and video games--since people in other industrialized countries watch the same movies and play the same games.

What's different is the 300 million guns this nation now has in circulation--and the ease with which they can be accessed and carried into public places. So let me be crystal clear. While I support the 2nd amendment, I am tired of seeing it misused either to protect gang members who want assault weapons or to kill common-sense gun safety laws designed to protect our churches, schools and movie theaters.

Polls tell us that 90% of the American people--and a solid majority of gun owners--strongly support common sense measures like universal background checks that actually work.

Source: 2016 Ohio Senate race: Center of Hope Baptist Church speech Aug 9, 2015

Steven Driehaus: More enforcement; more safety locks; more background checks

Source: 2000 Ohio National Political Awareness Test Nov 4, 2008

Eric Fingerhut: Supports safety locks, background checks, semi-auto ban