OHIO PROMISE INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Civil Rights

Democrats will always fight to end discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

Education

Democrats know that every child, no matter who they are, how much their families earn, or where they live, should have access to a high-quality education, from preschool through high school and beyond.

End the State’s process of taking over poor-performing school districts.

Immigration Reform

Democrats believe immigration is not just a problem to be solved, it is a defining aspect of the American character and our shared history. Democrats know the importance of our country’s history as a nation of immigrants. We honor our fundamental values by treating all people who come to the United States with dignity and respect, and we always seek to embrace — not to attack — immigrants.

Retirement Security

Seniors should not have to choose between putting food on the table, keeping a roof over their heads, or buying the medication that they need to stay healthy.

Science and Technology

Democrats value American innovation and believe it is one of our country’s great strengths.

The United States risks losing its scientific dominance. Democrats are committed to reversing this trend by investing in the technologies and jobs of the future while increasing support for more advanced research, labs, and classrooms.

Push expanded broadband access to underserved areas in Ohio.

National Security

American leadership is essential to keeping us safe and our economy growing in the years ahead.

Democrats are committed to ensuring our troops have the training, equipment, and support that they need when they are deployed and the care that they and their families need and deserve when they return home.

Preventing Gun Violence

With 33,000 Americans dying every year, Democrats believe that we must finally take sensible action to address gun violence.

An Act to Close Loopholes in Background Checks on Gun Sales

(The Act) is simple and protects our communities by closing loopholes in Ohio’s background check law.

The Act will require that sales and transfers of firearms in the State of Ohio be conducted by a federally licensed firearms dealer and that sales or transfer of firearms be conditioned on the person receiving the firearm being subjected to a background check pursuant to federal law.

Basically, if you’re buying a gun, there needs to be a federally licensed dealer involved and they need to run a background check. Also, federally licensed dealers must conduct background checks on private sales the same way they would if they were selling a gun out of their own inventory under current law.

The Act will close loopholes that allow prohibited people to buy guns without a background check.

When speaking with Ohioans some asked us: “What if I want to gift my son a rifle for his 18th birthday so he can hunt?” or “What if the gun is an antique and can’t even fire?” Well we heard you, and we have included several exceptions in the law.

A few examples are:

  • Transfers between family members
  • Transfers of antiques, curios, or relics
  • Temporary transfers for the specific purpose of hunting
  • Temporary transfers to a federally licensed gunsmith for repair

The Act also:

  • Permits firearms dealers to charge a reasonable fee for conducting sales or transfers under the Act.
  • Provides that no firearms dealer is required to conduct a sale or transfer by the Act.
  • Requires firearms dealers to maintain records as required by state or federal law.
  • Provides that if any provision of the Act is held to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.
  • Provides criminal penalties for persons who sell, buy, transfer, or receive a firearm in violation of the Act