COLUMBUS, Ohio — Democrats in Ohio have introduced a partisan bill aimed at tackling the issue of firearm violence prevention with the proposed “Building Safer Communities for Ohio’s Children Act.”
The legislation seeks to establish the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention within the Department of Children and Youth. This office, if created, would take on the responsibility of administering grant programs aimed at reducing firearm violence across the state.
Key provisions of the bill include the establishment of a team-based model of care system to address trauma recovery from chronic exposure to firearm violence. Additionally, it proposes the creation of a violence prevention organization grant program to provide coordinated programming and services for reducing violence.
Moreover, the bill plans for the implementation of evidence-based youth development programs to support at-risk youth in affected areas. It also suggests the allocation of grant funds to eligible counties based on the concentration of firearm violence, with a requirement for these counties to establish local advisory councils to oversee fund allocation.
Furthermore, the proposed legislation mandates the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention to prepare annual reports detailing program outcomes and recommendations for reducing firearm violence statewide.
Ohio Gun Violence Statistics –
- Rate of gun violence: Ohio has the 17th-highest rate of gun violence in the US, with an average of 1,602 people dying and 3,753 wounded by guns each year. (EveryStat)
- Gun deaths: Over 20,700 Ohioans died from gun violence between 2007 and 2021, with 2021 seeing near record-breaking numbers at 1,762 deaths. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- Firearm involvement in violent crimes: Over 60% of all serious violent crimes in Ohio involve a firearm. (Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services)