Columbus – In the wake of a school shooting in Connecticut that left 26 children and adults dead, Senator Eric H. Kearney (D-Cincinnati) released the following statement calling on Governor John Kasich to veto House Bill 495:

“I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the shooting victims in Connecticut who have suffered such a profound loss.  As the parent of two school age children, this tragedy hits close to home.  

“The mass shooting calls into question what we should be doing in the state of Ohio to keep our children safe.  Unfortunately, we have witnessed a steady weakening of Ohio’s gun laws during the 129^thGeneral Assembly.  First it was guns in bars and then just last week the Ohio Senate passed a bill to allow guns in the Statehouse and Riffe Building parking garages.  Surely, after the massacre of 20 young children, the answer is not more guns in more places.  

“With that in mind, Governor Kasich should veto House Bill 495.  His veto would send a clear message that it is time to reassess Ohio’s gun laws.  I strongly urge him to do so.”

Senator Kearney is the sponsor of Senate Bill 332—legislation that would add an additional 10-year prison term to an existing sentence for any person who discharges a firearm while committing an offense resulting in the injury or death of a child.