Governor candidates differ on gun control

SANDUSKY — If their past records are any indication, Democratic voters will have a wide range of opinions to choose from on the gun issue when they pick their nominee for governor.The May primary includes Dennis Kucinich, who was rated as an "F" by the National Gun Association, and Bill O'Neill, also not considered a friend by the gun lobby. Their main rivals include two candidates favored by the Buckeye Firearms Association: state Sen. Joe Schiavoni, who got an A- rating from the group in his last campaign, and Richard Cordray, who was endorsed by the pro-gun group in his campaign for attorney general in a previous race. Republicans, meanwhile, have two candidates left: Mike DeWine, who's received the early endorsement of the Buckeye Firearms Association, and Mary Taylor, whom the group considers a friend.The Democratic primary includes four candidates participating in a March 7 debate in Toledo that has been put together by the Ohio Democratic Party: Kucinich, Schiavoni, Cordray and Bill O'Neill.In 2008, when he was still in Congress, Kucinich received an "F" from the National Rifle Association. Kucinich has made gun control one of the top issues of his campaign for governor, and said weapons such as the AR-15 used in the recent massacre at a Florida school should be banned.The Buckeye Firearms Association endorsed Cordray when he ran for re-election as attorney general in 2010. "Cordray has exhibited strong support for the Second Amendment and for the rights of Ohio gun owners during his first term as attorney general," the announcement said.Dean Rieck, executive director of the Buckeye Firearms Association, said last week his group met recently with Cordray."We would consider him a friend. For a Democrat, he's been very pro-gun," Rieck said.The Cordray campaign said the meeting with the BFA was in the context of a meeting with the Ohio Sportsmen's Alliance. The NRA and affiliates such as Buckeye Firearms, generally oppose any gun control legislation. The NRA, particularly, spends millions of dollars each year making campaign contributions to candidates it favors who share that view. Last week, Cordray announced a package of proposals designed to curb gun violence, including expanding background checks, banning the sale of bump stocks, increasing support for school safety measures, creating local gun control task forces and naming a "gun violence prevention czar."The Buckeye Firearms Association endorsed Schiavoni in his 2014 race for the Ohio Senate, awarding him an A- rating.Schiavoni released a statement on guns last week, too, and said he is sponsoring legislation to provide grants to improve school safety.He said he is seeking ideas on gun safety. "I am setting up meetings with gun experts, educators and parents so we can do this the right way with meaningful legislation," he said.O'Neill told the Register Friday he favors requiring all owners of semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15 to register the weapons once a year by bringing the weapon to the local police department. The right to own the weapon would be revoked if a crime were committed, and the gun owner would be required to return to the police station every year to renew the registration.O'Neill said Kucinich's proposal to ban assault style weapons will not withstand legal scrutiny as long as the Second Amendment is in effect. "It's not going to happen," O'Neill said. Rieck said his group has not rated O'Neill in the past, but that based on his proposal for registering semiautomatic rifles, he would probably rate an "F." The Republican primary's candidates stress their support for gun rights.The Buckeye Firearms Association Political Action Committee endorsed DeWine on Feb. 8."This was an easy choice for Buckeye Firearms Association because Mike DeWine has done more over the past few years to advance and defend the right to keep and bear arms than any elected official in Ohio," said Jim Irvine, chairman of BFA PAC.Rieck said while his group backs DeWine, "We consider Mary Taylor a friend."Taylor issued a statement last week emphasizing her support for gun rights."All too often in the aftermath of these tragic events, there is knee jerk reaction to attack the 2nd Amendment rights of our citizens rather than to address the root causes, which often center around mental illness. Restricting the rights of law abiding Ohioans to legally purchase a gun does not do that. Neither does removing your prior support for pro-2nd Amendment legislation from a website," she said."We need to secure our school buildings and do everything possible to keep our students, teachers and staff safe. Including allowing trained, law abiding citizens to carry a gun on campus. These incidents are often over before law enforcement has a chance to respond and I can't help but to wonder whether the loss of life can be minimized or deterred if there is a good guy with a gun present," she said.Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontom.Former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich speaks during a news conference announcing his run for Ohio governor, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018, in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. Kucinich said he would muster state resources to fight poverty and violence, boost arts and education and expand economic opportunity. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)Sen. Joe Schiavoni Richard Cordray. Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill Mike DeWineMary Taylor