Several gun reform bills, including three bipartisan proposals, will be heard for the first time in the Ohio Senate Government Oversight committee. 

“Ohioans broadly support gun reforms, in our state and across the country, to protect people and save lives,” said state Sen. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati). “The vast majority of Ohioans want to see universal background checks and a ‘red-flag’ law – at the very least. These solutions alone won’t end our gun violence epidemic, but lawmakers have to start somewhere. We have to do something.”

The committee will hear three bipartisan bills, reintroduced with state Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) following the Aug. 4 mass shooting in Dayton. Two of the bipartisan bills, joint sponsored by Thomas, would implement universal background checks (Senate Bill 183) and raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21 (SB 182). The committee will also hear a bipartisan version of state Sen. Sandra Williams’ (D-Cleveland) bill to create a red-flag law in Ohio to temporarily remove guns from people who pose an imminent danger to themselves or others (SB 184).

Additionally, the committee will hear bills to close the so-called gun show loophole (SB 65) and to reaffirm the federal government’s ban on bump stocks (SB 62).