A group of advocates is pushing for more gun control legislation, even as state lawmakers are debating several pro-gun bills. The Ohio Coalition for Common Sense brought in a notable name for the launch of their campaign. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler explains.
Former astronaut Mark Kelly is a gun owner, married to another gun owner – former US Representative Gabby Giffords of Arizona, who survived being shot in the head at a constituent meeting in 2011. The couple now advocates for gun regulations. Kelly says the costs of gun violence in Ohio in medical expenses, lost wages, law enforcement and prosecution are huge.
“Just in 2015, the price tag of gun violence in Ohio was more than $2.5 billion in directly measurable costs.”
Kelly says most gun owners and more than 80% of Ohioans want Congress to close loopholes that allow no background checks for purchases on the internet or at gun show. But Kelly notes there’s a lot of enthusiasm on the gun rights side – indeed, there are several bills at the Statehouse to expand gun owners’ rights.
