Ohio mayors submit proposal to reduce gun violence

COLUMBUS — Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith has joined forces with 30 of her mayoral counterparts from Ohio’s largest cities in an effort to reduce gun violence and easy access to firearms.

In a letter to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, members of the Ohio Mayors Alliance, a bipartisan group of community leaders, cited “significant investments” in public safety and law enforcement that have resulted in “great strides to reduce violent crime in our communities.”

Despite those efforts, the letter continues, the summer months this year have seen a “troubling spasm of gun violence” that resulted in “multiple homicides, at least three separate mass shootings and numerous victims under the age of 18.”

The mayors crafted a five-pronged set of recommendations they believe would further help efforts to reduce crime rates, especially among younger Ohioans.

In their letter to the governor, the coalition recommended:

• The establishment of a state-level research unit to support cities and local law enforcement agencies with analysis, research and best-practice data sharing focused on the prevention of firearm-related deaths in Ohio.

• Additional state grants to cities and local law enforcement agencies for technology supports and other data-driven strategies that are working to reduce violent crime, such as the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program.

• A reduction in the number of stolen firearms that are being used in violent crimes by promoting awareness and enforcement of existing state laws to ensure that lawful gun owners know the consequences for not reporting a lost or stolen firearm.

• Greater application of the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Standards to incentivize more Ohio law enforcement agencies to input recovered crime gun information into the eTrace system and to share that tracking data across all law enforcement jurisdictions.

• Connecting with state legislative leaders on necessary state law changes that will help reduce gun violence and improve public safety in Ohio, with a specific focus on youth violence and reducing access to firearms among teens and adolescents.

The alliance’s letter to DeWine says the challenges of public safety and gun violence impact communities throughout the Buckeye State.

“When shootings occur in neighborhoods and high-profile entertainment districts it devastates the families of the victims, terrorizes our communities and hurts the small businesses that drive our economy,” according to the letter. “Excessive gun violence also strains our healthcare institutions and makes the job of law enforcement harder and more dangerous. We must come together — public and private sectors, state and local leaders — to reduce violent crime and improve public safety in our communities and across Ohio…. We believe this statewide public safety coalition and our ongoing partnership with your administration can have an impact.”

Lima’s mayor is fully on board with the recommendations.

“Addressing gun crime and youth access to firearms doesn’t have to be a polarizing issue,” Smith said in a press release. “This bipartisan coalition is proof that there are viable solutions that we can implement together to help protect our communities from the tragedies of gun violence.”

Joining Smith in signing the letter to DeWine were mayors from Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Fairfield, Findlay, Kettering, Lancaster, Parma and Youngstown.