Gov. Mike DeWine calls for gun background checks, ‘red flag’ law in wake of Dayton mass shooting

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks at the Ohio Statehouse

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is calling for background checks for most gun sales in Ohio in the wake of Sunday's mass shooting in Dayton. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon, File)AP

COLUMBUS, Ohio--Gov. Mike DeWine is calling for background checks on almost all Ohio gun sales, as well as a “red-flag” law that would allow authorities to seize guns from people deemed to be dangerous to themselves or others.

Those proposals, part of a package of reforms offered by the governor during a news conference Tuesday, come in the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting in Dayton, in which a gunman killed nine people before being fatally shot by police.

But it remains to be seen how the governor’s proposals are received by his fellow Republicans who control the state legislature, as they have repeatedly voted to expand gun rights in the state.

DeWine said he wants Ohio to require background checks for all firearms sales except for gifts and “certain other limited uses.” Federal law already requires licensed dealers to conduct background checks before selling firearms; the proposal would target sales online and at gun shows.

If passed, Ohio would become the 12th state (as well as the District of Columbia) to require universal background checks for firearms sales.

A gun-control group, Ohioans for Gun Safety, is currently collecting signatures to force state lawmakers to consider near-universal background checks. Group spokesman Dennis Willard, in a statement, praised DeWine’s proposal but said the group will continue to collect signatures.

DeWine also offered more details about his proposed “red-flag” law, which would allow judges to confiscate guns from those deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.

The governor stressed that his proposal would ensure due-process rights by requiring a court hearing prior to any confiscation order – which he called a “safety protection order” and allowing people to petition the court to get their guns back.

DeWine asked state lawmakers to toughen state penalties for a number of gun-related crimes. Under the governor’s proposal, the penalty for felons caught illegally possessing a gun would rise from a third-degree felony (up to 3 years in prison) to a second-degree felony (2-8 years in prison) for a first offense.

People convicted of “straw man” purchases (having a third party purchase a gun for someone not allowed to buy one), providing guns to minors, and possessing or brandishing a weapon while committing a felony would face extra prison time as well.

Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Tom Stickrath also said state law-enforcement officials will become “proactive” in monitoring social media for certain words and phrases indicating someone is considering a violent attack.

“Look -- anybody can do this,” DeWine said of the social-media monitoring, adding, “What we’re seeing time after time after time is there were warnings.”

The governor proposed a number of mental-health reforms as well, including moving people charged with non-violent misdemeanor crimes out of the state psychiatric hospital to a new, separate facility. He also noted the $675 million in the recently signed state budget for “wrap-around” services for children, including suicide prevention programs and access to mental-health treatment.

DeWine, who campaigned on a pro-gun rights platform, said that he heard people yelling during a Dayton prayer vigil for him to “do something."

“And they were absolutely right,” the governor said. “We must do something. And that is exactly what we are going to do."

DeWine said while his proposals might not have prevented the Dayton attack, state officials now need to look at how to prevent attacks in general.

“If we, after a tragedy, only confine ourself to doing those things that would have prevented this tragedy, we’re missing a real opportunity,” he said.

DeWine said that most, if not all of these proposals were already in the works before the Dayton shooting. The governor added that his administration consulted with pro-gun rights groups to craft the proposals, so the pro-gun community wouldn’t oppose the measures.

The governor said he still supports pro-gun proposals, including a “stand your ground” bill (which makes it easier to use guns in self-defense) and no longer requiring people to get a license to carry a concealed firearm in Ohio. But, DeWine said he thinks lawmakers need to pass his package of proposals first.

Jim Irvine, who chairs the Buckeye Firearms Association and attended the governor’s press conference, said afterward, “I can’t think of anything offhand that concerned me" about the proposed reforms.

Republican legislative leaders have previously indicated they might be open to a “red-flag” law. But they haven’t yet said what they think about background checks or the other reforms laid out by DeWine.

“We appreciate Governor DeWine’s hard work in delivering his proposal,” said Ohio Senate GOP spokesman John Fortney in a statement. “We are starting the discussion with members today for thorough and deliberative consideration.”

Kristen Brett, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Larry Householder – whose campaign ads showed him shooting a TV with a rifle – said Householder and DeWine have spoken about the proposals in general terms.

“The speaker is looking forward to reviewing the details of the proposals and talking with members of our caucus about how we can improve the safety and security of all Ohioans, and get people the help they need,” Brett said in a statement.

Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, an Akron Democrat, said in a statement that Democrats “stand ready to work together” on passing universal background checks and a red-flag law.

“We’re encouraged the governor is finally listening to the vast majority of Ohioans who have said enough is enough, and that now is the time to do something to end gun violence,” Sykes said.

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democrat who ran for governor last year, also praised DeWine’s proposals, calling them “an important step in the right direction.

“Last year, the Ohio Legislature was debating extreme proposals about arming preschool teachers,” Whaley said. “Today, we’re finally talking about common-sense ideas like universal background checks.”

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