OHIO– Governor Mike DeWine, this morning, called for changes in the wake of the Sunday, August 4 shooting in Dayton’s Oregon District.

In an emotional statement, Ohio’s governor said he agreed with protesters who demanded that he "do something.”

So, he’s doing just that.

In what DeWine described as “a loss that’s impossible to comprehend,” he outlined seventeen measures that he believes can make a difference.

Those initiatives include stricter penalties for those who aid others in getting a weapon, background checks and safety protections, and increased police training.

“I believe these proposals fulfill three important requirements,” said DeWine. “They can pass the legislature, they make meaningful progress toward safer communities, and they are Constitutional. Passing them won’t be easy, but this is the right thing to do, and this is the right time to do it.”

DeWine’s proposals are:

Safety Protection Orders. Would allow courts to issue Safety Protection Orders, which would remove firearms from potentially dangerous individuals and get them the mental health treatment they need all while maintaining an individual’s right to due process.

Increased Access to Inpatient Psychiatric Care.  Would create a process where courts and community-based providers can work together to restore competency for those to stand trial in an outpatient setting which will free more hospital beds and decrease wait time for admission.

Early Intervention. As part of the 2019-2020 biennium operating budget, the state is investing $675 million in wrap-around services for schools to design individualized programs, working with local mental health providers or social service organizations, to address the social and emotional challenges our students face. 

Access to Behavioral Health Services. The Ohio Department of Medicaid is investing $15 million in telehealth mental health services to students, so no matter where a child lives, they have access to high-quality mental health care.

Risk Factor and Resource Identification. OhioMHAS will be working with communities to increase knowledge of risk factors, help parents identify when their child is showing warning signs of a mental illness. The department will share screening tools with clinicians and help connect community-based services to link parents, families, and schools with proven supports and strategies to manage a child’s wellness over the child’s lifetime.

Background Checks. Would require background checks for all firearms sales in the state of Ohio with certain limited, reasonable exceptions, including gifts between family members.

Increased Penalties for Felons Who Illegally Possess Firearms. Would increase penalties on felons who illegally possess or use guns.

Increased Penalties for Violent Felons Who Illegally Possess Firearms. Would increase penalties for violent felons and other people found with a gun they do not have the legal right to possess. The crime of having a weapon while under a disability is currently a third-degree felony punishable by a maximum of three years in prison. On a first offense, the crime should be a second-degree felony punishable by two-to eight-years in prison, and for subsequent offenses, it should be a first-degree felony punishable by three- to eleven years’ incarceration.

Increased Penalties for People Who Commit Felonies while in Possessing Firearms. Would increase penalties for people who commit felonies with a firearm or who possess a firearm while committing a felony to a mandatory additional one- to three-year sentence.  

Increased Penalties for Brandishing a Gun. Would increase the penalty for those who commit a felony while brandishing a firearm to a mandatory three- to five-year sentence.

Increased Penalties for Straw Purchases.  Would increase the penalty for a straw purchase to a second-degree felony punishable by two to eight years in prison. “Straw” purchases, the act of purchasing guns for or giving guns to another individual, are currently illegal under Ohio and federal law.

Increased Penalties for Illegally Obtained Guns. Would increase the penalty for a person who possesses a firearm that they know was obtained through an illegal or fraudulent purchase in order to avoid a federal background check. A person who possesses the gun should be punished in the same manner as a person who bought the firearm, increasing the penalty to a second-degree felony punishable by two-to-eight years in prison.

Increased Penalties for Those Who Improperly Provide Firearms to Minors. Would increase the penalty for improperly providing a firearm to a minor to and a third-degree felony punishable by up to three years in prison.

School Tip Line. Would expand the state’s school safety tip line, where kids and adults can call or text anonymously to 844-723-3764 with tips about potential school violence.

Social Media Monitoring.  The Hub at the Ohio Department of Public Safety is expanding their ability to monitor and track potential threats on social media and will share that information with local school and local law enforcement.

Community Safety. The operating budget provides nearly $9 million to help harden soft targets like non-profits and religious organizations to make their facilities more secure.

School Safety and Intervention Programs. Working closely with Sandy Hook Promise, Ohio’s schools are implementing their “Know the Signs” safety program across the state. This program equips school staff with knowledge and skills to identify potential threats of violent action and take steps to intervene. There are 23 training dates already scheduled.