Title
To strongly urge Governor John Kasich to veto legislation passed by the Ohio General Assembly allowing gun-permit holders to carry concealed weapons into bars, restaurants and open-air arenas that serve alcohol.
Body
WHEREAS, civic leaders in the City of Columbus, Ohio, have been working to prevent gun violence in neighborhoods throughout our city by enforcing existing gun laws; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council and Mayor Michael B. Coleman respect the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms and carry firearms for personal protection with the proper permit; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, law enforcement and civic and neighborhood leaders are having a significant impact on reducing gun violence and keeping our citizens and law enforcement personnel safe from harm; and
WHEREAS, legislation recently passed by the Ohio General Assembly that would allow gun-permit holders to carry concealed weapons into bars, restaurants and open-air arenas that serve alcohol is counterproductive to the City of Columbus' efforts to reduce gun violence and keep its citizens and law enforcement personnel safe; and
WHEREAS, Ohio's food-service industry is the third largest private sector employer in Ohio, with over 532,000 employees and 21,000 locations that generate more than $500 million in state sales tax revenue, and
WHEREAS, under the legislation passed by the Ohio General Assembly bar and restaurant owners in Columbus and throughout Ohio would be put in a difficult position of enforcing Ohio gun laws, and
WHEREAS, there is unified opposition to the legislation among law-enforcement groups, and public opinion polls indicate guns-in-bars laws are overwhelmingly unpopular; now, therefore;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That the Council of the City of Columbus does hereby urge Governor John Kasich to veto legislation passed by the Ohio General Assembly allowing gun-permit holders to carry concealed weapons into bars, restaurants and open-air arenas that serve alcohol and any and all other venues in which alcohol is present.