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Group Brings In Astronaut To Launch Campaign To Advocate For Gun Regulations

Karen Kasler
Astronaut and gun control advocate Mark Kelly joined members of the Ohio Coalition for Common Sense for the start of their campaign.

A group of advocates is pushing for more gun control legislation, even as state lawmakers are debating several pro-gun bills. And the Ohio Coalition for Common Sense brought in a notable name for their launch.

Former astronaut Mark Kelly is a gun owner, married to another gun owner – former US Rep. Gabby Giffords of Arizona, who survived being shot in the head  at a constituent meeting in 2011. The couple now advocates for gun regulations. Kelly says the costs of gun violence in Ohio in medical expenses, lost wages, law enforcement and prosecution are huge. “Just in 2015, the price tag of gun violence in Ohio was more than $2.5 billion in directly measurable costs,” Kelly said.

Kelly says most gun owners and more than 80% of Ohioans want Congress to close loopholes that allow no background checks for purchases on the internet or at gun show. But Kelly notes there’s a lot of enthusiasm on the gun rights side – indeed, there are several bills at the Statehouse to expand gun owners’ rights.

Contact Karen at 614-578-6375 or at kkasler@statehousenews.org.
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