Today, state Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) sent a letter to Governor Mike DeWine, urging him to reconsider his decision to sign House Bill 99 and instead veto the dangerous legislation to allow local school boards to permit adults to possess a firearm on school grounds with only a minimal amount of training. Senator Fedor also issued the following statement:

“This bill is yet another instance of the Republican party doing something that the vast majority of people do not want.

“It is difficult to find the words to express how disappointing the result of this vote is. The GOP’s decision to disregard the will of Ohioans by allowing  more guns in our schools is undemocratic, considering the hundreds of Ohioans who have taken the time to submit testimony in opposition to this radical piece of legislation. An overwhelming majority of Ohioans support commonsense gun legislation, such as universal background checks and Red Flag laws, but Republicans repeatedly refuse to represent the will of those they were elected to serve.

“To my fellow Ohioans: the only way to prevent unconscionable legislation like this from being passed in the future is by voting in November. I now urge Governor DeWine to respect the 2014 recommendation by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission requiring 152 training hours for school staff who wish to be armed – which he endorsed as Attorney General – and veto this disgraceful bill."

House Bill 99 will now be sent to Governor DeWine. Read a full copy of the letter here.