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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Where Do Ohio’s Gun Laws Stand One Year After Newtown Tragedy?

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Thursday, December 12, 2013   

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut one year ago, 21 states have enacted new laws to curb gun violence in their communities – but Ohio is not among them.

Toby Hoover, founder of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, says there were more measures introduced to make it easier for gun access, use and to prohibit enforcement than there were measures to reduce gun violence.

"It's like we're not connected to the rest of the country,” she says, “because there have been states that have passed some very good laws – and ours seem to be going in a different direction."

In a 2013 report card from the Brady Campaign and the Center to Control Gun Violence, Ohio was among the states considered failing on gun laws, receiving a D for having only a small handful of firearms regulations.

On Tuesday, the father of one of the children killed during the mass shooting in Newtown spoke before Ohio lawmakers and urged them to pass House Bill 31, which would require guns to be safely stored when children are around.

After Sandy Hook, many Ohio school districts reviewed their own safety polices and implemented new measures in buildings, including alarm systems and lock-down drills.

There are also efforts in some communities to allow school employees to carry a firearm. Hoover says that should be allowed if it is a trained resource officer.

"Because that officer is not only trained and monitored and works for a police department but he also has been specially trained to know how to deal with kids and their parents and their teachers, etc.," she says.

None of the bills introduced in Congress after Sandy Hook to restrict gun ownership or use passed.

Hoover says Ohio needs to consider more measures that would prevent gun violence, including background checks on private firearm sales, and prohibiting assault weapons.





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