Buckeye Reporter

As Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) continues to support gun control legislation, gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci is taking aim at DeWine's anti-Second Amendment stance.

DeWine, according to Dayton 24/7 Now, has repeatedly called for gun control legislation, including expanding background checks. Ohio Republicans have criticized the governor for this, and Renacci is using that history to draw a clear line as he seeks to wrest the GOP nomination for governor from DeWine in the May 3 primary.

According to Renacci’s campaign website, the governor called for passage of his gun control measure during a visit this week in Lorain. 

"Gov. DeWine has a lifelong career of pursuing gun control,” Ohio Gunowners Association Executive Director Chris Door said in a news release issued by Renacci. “Everything he just proposed won't ever stop a killer, but it will definitely empower tyrannical government. Ohio gun owners say hell no. It's time to make gun rights great again in Ohio and reject DeWine's return to his gun control roots." 

According to Dayton 24/7 Now, DeWine has consistently pushed for gun control legislation, including an expansion of background checks. He has long been a target of state Republicans for his stance on gun control. That history goes back to his time in the U.S. Senate, and the Buckeye Firearms Association noted in a post from 2006 that DeWine was on Human Events Online's list of the Top 10 anti-gun senators. 

"Mike DeWine (is) consistently the only Republican to speak in favor of anti-Second Amendment legislation on the Senate floor," according to Buckeye Firearms Association. It also said DeWine is “in the company of Democrats and some of the most anti-American, anti-self defense and anti-Second Amendment characters that currently call the United States Senate their home.”

Renacci echoed the historic account, stating that DeWine was one of the most ardent supporters of gun control measures while in the Senate and has continued the same pattern as governor.  

“Yet again, DeWine is choosing to govern Ohio like a blue state liberal,” Renacci said on his website. “Republicans in the Legislature were smart to stop his leftist-inspired gun control legislation, but the only way to ensure DeWine doesn't come after our Second Amendment freedoms again is to defeat him.”

Renacci also pledged that if elected governor, he would not sign any legislation that violates Ohioans' gun rights and will support the Second Amendment.

Renacci is businessman and a former U.S. representative from Ohio’s 16th congressional district.

According to West Hamilton News, DeWine was chosen by former Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) to replace him as governor in 2019, when Kasich was prevented by term limits from running for a third term as governor. DeWine has held elected office for 41 years, making him one of the longest-serving politicians in Ohio history. He has held office in the Ohio State Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, as state attorney general, lieutenant governor and governor.