Mike DeWine Made Ohio Less Safe
September 27, 2022
Columbus, OH — In case you missed it, the Ohio Capital Journal covered a new study that suggests Ohio will become less safe after Mike DeWine caved to his gun lobby donors and weakened Ohio’s gun laws. Earlier this year, DeWine ignored the pleas of law enforcement officers and signed permitless carry legislation into law. According to the study, states that relax concealed carry laws, which the permitless carry bill does, experience a spike in gun violence. It’s just the latest example of how Mike DeWine’s weakness is hurting our state.
“[Johns Hopkins University scientist Mitchell] Doucette said the study suggests that Ohio may experience more gun crimes in the future by removing its ability to screen out people who have been convicted of violent assaults from carrying a concealed weapon.” writes the Ohio Capital Journal’s Jake Zuckerman.
“Once again, Mike DeWine’s inability to stand up to his own party and campaign donors is hurting Ohioans. Even though law enforcement officers asked him not to, DeWine caved to the gun lobby and signed legislation that makes us all less safe. At a time when too many families are worried about keeping their loved ones safe, DeWine’s weakness is putting more Ohioans in danger,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Matt Keyes.
Read more from the Ohio Capital Journal here and below:
- Weakened concealed carry laws are associated with an estimated 9.5% increase in rates of criminal assaults with firearms, according to research published last week.
- That relationship is most pronounced in places that allow people convicted of violent misdemeanor crimes to carry a concealed firearm. Those states are associated with an estimated 24% increase in assaults with a gun.
- “What we saw was that prohibiting violent misdemeanors from obtaining a permit actually ended up mattering a lot,” said Mitchell Doucette, an assistant scientist at Johns Hopkins University Center for Gun Violence Solutions, the lead author on the research.
- Additionally, Doucette said the research indicates that states removing a requirement that applicants complete live firearms training, like shooting at a gun range, are associated with an 18% increase in assaults with a firearm.
- The study analyzes 34 states that relaxed their concealed carry programs between 1980 and 2019, and compares them against predicted crime rates based on data from “may issue” states. The research was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
- This summer, Ohio joined a list of 24 other states that do not require any special permit to carry a concealed weapon. The law passed solely with Republican support. Now, any adults who can lawfully possess a weapon may carry it concealed on their persons.
- The recent research focuses on states that loosen concealed carry programs, but not those that remove licensure as a requirement to carry a concealed weapon. However, Doucette said the study suggests that Ohio may experience more gun crimes in the future by removing its ability to screen out people who have been convicted of violent assaults from carrying a concealed weapon.
- “I do think that losing that screening ability is important,” he said. “I think it’s meaningful.”
- Ohio’s concealed carry program still exists, but it’s no longer required in order to carry in-state. Applying gun owners must complete eight hours of training and pass a criminal background check to obtain a permit. While state law allows those convicted of violent misdemeanors to possess a weapon, it does not allow them to obtain a concealed carry permit.
- Doucette said the research indicates if states want to reduce gun crime, they should ensure their concealed carry laws prohibit those with violent misdemeanors from carrying a weapon.
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