Assault weapons may have finally met their match in the form of Senate Bill 170.
Proposed by state Sen. Eric Fingerhut, D-Cleveland, the bill would "prohibit the manufacture, possession, purchase, sale, transfer, or offer to sell any assault weapon and certain other related conduct," according to the legislation.
Fingerhut developed the idea in response to the expiration of a federal ban prohibiting the possession of assault weapons. He sought to eliminate existing loopholes and cement the ban into state law.
"The loopholes are clear," Fingerhut said. "Every time a specific weapon is banned, the gun manufacturers create a copycat that is slightly different but functions in the same way. If passed, SB 170 would become state law and close these loopholes."
According to the bill, an assault weapon is "any semi-automatic firearm that is a handgun, any semi-automatic firearm that is a rifle, or any pump-action rifle." Fingerhut said these weapons and related others are militarized and designed specifically to cause death.
"We've always drawn the line in this country between weapons for civilian use and those appropriate for military use," Fingerhut said. "In recent years, we've developed civilian weapons that can function as military weapons. A distinction needs to be made between the two."
As of now, the distinction is not clear. Although Ohioans cannot own a military tank, they can possess an automatic firearm that is capable of emitting thirty-one cartridges without reloading.
Firearms capable of multiple projectiles are a consequence of technological advancements that may benefit the government but often harm the safety of its citizens. Instances in Ohio and American history emphasize the reality of this impending harm.
Biswanath Halder, a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, fired rounds of ammunition on the campus of his alma mater on May 10. The former student had lost a lawsuit against an employee who worked at the targeted building. The shooting spree killed one person and injured two. A rapid-fire assault weapon was used to execute Halder's crime.
"The weapon used in the shootings at Case Western Reserve was a military-style assault weapon that should never be available to the general public," Fingerhut said.
The event at CWRU is not the only example of its nature. One of the guns used in the Columbine shootings was a legally purchased Tec-9 semi-automatic handgun. Its manufacturer specifically advertised it as the most popular crime weapon in America.
Sen. Mark Mallory, D-Cincinnati, is one of six senators who are co-sponsoring the bill, which targets the prohibition of handguns like the one used at Columbine. His stance on weapon possession was the catalyst for his interest in Fingerhut's proposal.
"The only reason assault weapons need to exist is for military purposes," Mallory said. "They are not necessary for hunting and have no purpose for public ownership."
Although SB 170 may seem beneficial, controversy exists between the legislation concerning weapon ownership and basic rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
"Congress has the power to do whatever they will," said David Goldberger, a professor of law at Ohio State. "However, the Supreme Court usually stays out of legislative issues like these. For the law to become valid, the courts would have to formulate a new position. My prediction is that they are not likely to tackle this issue."
Kevin Peterson, a senior in history, hopes the courts continue to maintain their current position. As a gunowner, Peterson enjoys exercising the rights guaranteed to him as a citizen of this country.
"The bill would accomplish nothing but prohibiting honest people from being able to protect themselves," he said. "Saving even one life is not as important as upholding the Constitution."
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