The shooting in Illinois, killing seven and injuring dozens, came days after President Joe Biden signed the strictest gun reform bill in three decades.The bill imposes stricter background checks on juvenile gun buyers, encourages states to adopt red-flag laws and funds school youth mental health programs.Monday's Independence Day massacre reignited firearm debates in the United States. Many are calling for sweeping reform, while others disagree.Sasha Martin works at Target World, a gun store, training center and firing range in Sharonville, Ohio."No, I wouldn't say firearms are the issue," Martin said. "I'd say individuals with mental health problems are the issue."Martin explained the process of purchasing a gun, including a valid state ID and filling out ATF Form 4473, which is then turned in to the FBI. The background check can go three ways: proceed, delay or deny."I just don't think from my personal experience people who are denied on firearm background checks aren't being prosecuted," Matin said. "I've seen the system work how it was intended, and nothing be done about it."Gun shops often come under fire for the sale of long rifles, the weapon used in Monday's shooting."We really got to focus on the individual people; we can't attack these objects, these tools," Martin said. "I think that will only hurt us as a society."Some lawmakers like Ohio State Sen. Cecil Thomas disagree. He is spearheading a state bill that raises the age to buy a long ride, adopts a red flag law, extends the wait time for gun purchases and allows tracking of gun transfers."We're not trampling on your right to bear arms," Thomas said. "We just tried to minimize the potential for an incident."Getting a tighter grip on Ohio's gun laws is something Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr. believes is desperately needed."Anything we can do to make sure that we rid ourselves of weapons of community destruction," Sullivan said.Sullivan added that if something is to change, it must start with honest conversations.
The shooting in Illinois, killing seven and injuring dozens, came days after President Joe Biden signed the strictest gun reform bill in three decades.
The bill imposes stricter background checks on juvenile gun buyers, encourages states to adopt red-flag laws and funds school youth mental health programs.
Monday's Independence Day massacre reignited firearm debates in the United States.
Many are calling for sweeping reform, while others disagree.
Sasha Martin works at Target World, a gun store, training center and firing range in Sharonville, Ohio.
"No, I wouldn't say firearms are the issue," Martin said. "I'd say individuals with mental health problems are the issue."
Martin explained the process of purchasing a gun, including a valid state ID and filling out ATF Form 4473, which is then turned in to the FBI.
The background check can go three ways: proceed, delay or deny.
"I just don't think from my personal experience people who are denied on firearm background checks aren't being prosecuted," Matin said. "I've seen the system work how it was intended, and nothing be done about it."
Gun shops often come under fire for the sale of long rifles, the weapon used in Monday's shooting.
"We really got to focus on the individual people; we can't attack these objects, these tools," Martin said. "I think that will only hurt us as a society."
Some lawmakers like Ohio State Sen. Cecil Thomas disagree.
He is spearheading a state bill that raises the age to buy a long ride, adopts a red flag law, extends the wait time for gun purchases and allows tracking of gun transfers.
"We're not trampling on your right to bear arms," Thomas said. "We just tried to minimize the potential for an incident."
Getting a tighter grip on Ohio's gun laws is something Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr. believes is desperately needed.
"Anything we can do to make sure that we rid ourselves of weapons of community destruction," Sullivan said.
Sullivan added that if something is to change, it must start with honest conversations.
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