Buckeye Reporter

Far too often, media reports on "gun violence" favor the viewpoint of those advocating for stricter gun control. The typical narrative suggests that anti-gun legislators push for "commonsense gun control," while pro-gun lawmakers prioritize rights over safety. This perspective often includes statistics from organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety or Brady United.

A recent example is the coverage of House Bill 433, which proposes a ban on "mass casualty weapons." If passed, this bill would make nearly all semi-automatic handguns and rifles illegal in Ohio. Another instance is the discussion surrounding "safe storage" laws.

The Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) recently testified in favor of Senate Bill 32, introduced by Senator Shaffer, which aims to provide civil immunity.

According to the prevailing narrative, extremism is the obstacle to progress. This view suggests that pro-gun legislators are extremists who prioritize rights over safety and cater to the gun lobby.

However, gun-rights advocates argue that they promote true safety. The BFA emphasizes that they care about Ohioans' Second Amendment rights as outlined in both the U.S. and Ohio Constitutions. They also believe that access to firearms is essential for individual and family safety.

The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) has pointed out that gun-free zones are not safe and may even be dangerous. According to a March 2024 article by CPRC: "Given that people are allowed to carry their permitted concealed handguns in most public places, if these mass public shootings were random, 95% or higher of these attacks would take place where permitted concealed handguns were allowed. Instead, 94% of those attacks occur where general citizens are banned from having guns."

Shooters have reportedly targeted locations where they know individuals will be unarmed.

Furthermore, CPRC notes: "Despite teachers carrying guns in schools in 20 states, all school shooting attacks have occurred in schools that ban teachers from having guns."

Red-flag laws and universal background checks are often promoted as paths to safer communities but are viewed skeptically by some gun-rights advocates.

Nikki Goeser, executive director of CPRC and author of “Stalked And Defenseless,” describes how her husband was murdered by a stalker while her legal firearm was locked away due to being in a gun-free zone.

There is an argument within the pro-gun community that anti-gun measures do more harm than good and target law-abiding gun owners rather than addressing violent crime effectively.

Joe D. "Buck" Ruth spent nearly 30 years in the news industry and emphasizes the importance of unbiased journalism when covering contentious issues like gun control.

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