Columbus Council is hosting a town hall on Thursday evening to get community feedback on proposed gun ordinances. The event will be held at City Hall at 5 p.m.
In late March, Columbus officials announced several new pieces of legislation to tighten gun regulations, aimed at reducing the gap between state and federal weapons laws.
"We’ve heard loud and clear that residents and neighborhoods would like to see action to make our neighborhoods safer, and whether the ordinances that are going to be discussed tonight accomplish that goal," said Council member Michael Stinziano.
Stinziano said the city government wants resident reactions before moving forward.
"Based on the feedback we receive from residents, any questions, possible more ordinances or additional hearings," Stinziano said. "We understand because it impacts so many neighborhoods and residents that the more feedback given during the process, the better product we could have."
The proposals include banning firearm accessories and commercial gun sales in residential areas, prohibiting the sale of imitation firearms to minors, and adding prohibitions on gun ownership for people convicted of domestic violence.
"The prohibition of gun accessories, banning the sale of imitation firearms, or changing features of an imitation firearm, also how we can look at the local level to address victims of domestic violence or whether violent criminals, making sure they don’t have access to a firearm," Stinziano said.
City Council is not sure whether it will host more community forums regarding gun legislation for this particular set of ordinances.
Columbus officials have pushed back against a bill in the Ohio legislature, HB 228, which would stop local governments from passing gun laws. Currently, Ohio Revised Code 9.68 prohibits cities and localities from enforcing gun control measures stricter than the state's laws, but Columbus City Council says their measures operate in the space between state and federal law.
