Government leaders from around the state extended their condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones during the mass shooting in Dayton, while some top leaders called for legislation to prevent such an attack in the future.
Gov. Mike DeWine described the mass shooting in Dayton鈥檚 historic Oregon District as a "nightmare."
As far as supporting new gun regulations, such as expanding background checks or the so-called "Red Flag Law," DeWine says 鈥渆verything鈥檚 on the table鈥� as long as it鈥檚 constitutional, can pass the General Assembly, and it鈥檚 effective.
鈥淚t has to move the ball. In other words, improve the situation. You can do all three things that it sounds like something that we certainly should be doing,鈥� DeWine says.
The "Red Flag Law" allows a court to confiscate weapons from someone who might pose a threat to themselves or others.
DeWine stressed that the details and cause of the shooting were still under investigation.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and State Senator Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) were both vocal on the need to start working on bills now.
鈥淎ll of us when we first hear of something so awful feel sadness for the victims and pray for the families. But the next feeling I had was anger that my country鈥檚 government stands by and does so little,鈥� says Brown.
We must mourn today but take action tomorrow. I pray that my colleagues in the Ohio legislature will join me in passing long overdue common sense gun legislation as soon as possible. Let鈥檚 make America safe again.
— Peggy Lehner (@peggylehner)
"We must mourn today but take action tomorrow. I pray that my colleagues in the Ohio legislature will join me in passing long overdue common sense gun legislation as soon as possible. Let鈥檚 make America safe again," Lehner said on Twitter.
U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said in a statement, 鈥淭hese senseless acts of violence must stop.鈥�
