Title
To Support Grassroots Efforts by Ohioans for Gun Safety to Close Background Check Loopholes & Join 20 Other States by Enacting Common Sense Background Checks for Gun Sales in Ohio
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council partnered with Mayor Ginther and City Attorney Klein to close the gap between state and federal firearms laws, reduce gun violence, and protect victims of domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, while the City of Columbus is pushing for common sense gun safety, state preemption laws prevent municipalities from implementing evidence-based firearm safety measures; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, there were 1524 Ohioans killed by gun violence - the 6th highest in the nation; and
WHEREAS, the grassroots organization Ohioans for Gun Safety is pushing to put universal background checks on the ballot as a statewide initiative; and
WHEREAS, recent surveys show that more than 90% of Americans support universal background check; and
WHEREAS, in states with universal background checks there are 38% fewer women shot to death by their intimate partners, 49% fewer firearm suicides, and 39% fewer law enforcement officers are shot to death; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby support grassroots efforts by Ohioans for Gun Safety to close the background check loopholes and join 20 other states by enacting common sense background checks for gun sales in Ohio.