Cincinnati mayor proposes ordinances to keep guns locked up and away from abusers
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and several Cincinnati City Council members introduced two new gun control ordinances they say will help curb gun violence and violence against women in the city.
The proposals would keep anyone who has a domestic violence conviction from legally owning a gun in the city.
And the administration wants to make the failure to keep guns locked up a crime as well, especially if a child is harmed.
Violating either would constitute a misdemeanor and be punishable by up to a year in jail.
Cincinnati is also joining other cities in a lawsuit fighting a measure by the Ohio General Assembly restricting what laws and ordinances cities can pass in Ohio.
The gun rights group Buckeye Firearms has already put out a notice that it intends to fight the city's new ordinances in court.
Mayor Pureval said he's confident the new ordinances will survive any legal challenges as he unveiled the proposals in front of a large coalition of community activists.
"Each of these community leaders is with us because they understand they have seen firsthand the unacceptable tragedy caused by the universal accessibility of guns. We stand here united in our commitment to do everything in our power to change that," said Mayor Pureval. "This is just common sense and it's something that research has shown time and time again, to have a significant impact on preventing tragedies."
The proposals are to go in front of the city council's Law and Public Safety Committee next week, meaning the full council could vote on them within two weeks.
