Two Ohio Republicans announced Monday their plan to introduce a gun-control bill that would improve the “current firearms background check process.”
“Ohio’s background check process is undermined by gaps, inconsistencies and delays in the data being submitted,” said Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton), who served for 10 years as Montgomery County sheriff. “This legislation establishes clear, consistent guidelines for our current background check process, detailing what needs to be reported, when it needs to be reported and who is responsible for reporting it.”
Plummer is joined by Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) in sponsoring the legislation. The bill would require that criminal convictions, mental health adjudications, warrants, indictments, and certain court orders be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System (NICS) within one business day. Entities that fail to do so would be fined.
“The plan announced today also calls for Ohio to develop a new streamlined reporting portal, which would be used by all state and local entities in Ohio to supply data to the existing NICS background check system,” a press release said.
Swearingen said Ohio “cannot rely on a process that relies on redundant or incomplete information.”
“The new guidelines in this legislation, coupled with the creation of a new reporting portal, will bring our current background check process into the 21st century. It will be a one-stop shop that ensures all data is accurate, complete and up-to-date,” he said.
The legislation would include $2.4 million annually for the Ohio Department of Public Safety to run the new portal.
“We really want to make sure we are supporting our local government partners on this project,” Swearingen added.
The bill would also include a “pink slip” provision that would modify the definition of mental illness to include those who suffer from a moderate or severe substance use disorder, meaning they would be prohibited from owning firearms.
Gov. Mike DeWine plans to unveil his multi-point plan to reduce gun violence on October 7, two months after the mass shooting in Dayton.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “D.J. Swearingen” by D.J. Swearingen.
