Tuesday, July 25, 2023 CONTACT: Cameron Keir | [email protected] | 614-359-5346

Columbus, OH — Today, Mayor Andrew J Ginther’s campaign for reelection is proud to announce Mayor Ginther as a 2023 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. This distinction is awarded to leaders dedicated to reducing gun violence and pledging to lead as common-sense gun safety advocates. Mayor Ginther joins a list of over 40 Ohio leaders at every level of government pledging their continued support for laws that will ultimately reduce gun crimes and keep communities like Columbus safer. 

“Mayor Ginther is honored to receive the 2023 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction and pledges to remain a strong partner of Moms Demand Action in the continued fight for common-sense gun legislation in Columbus. The distinction is a true testament to the Mayor’s years of dedicated leadership making every neighborhood in Columbus safer than it was before. But Mayor Ginther cannot finish this work on his own. He implores extreme state lawmakers to look at these stats, and either join him in fixing the problem or stay out of Columbus’s way and let us enforce laws that will keep our neighbors safe,” said Ginther campaign spokesperson Cameron Keir.  

The distinction comes at a critical time for Mayor Ginther and Ohio, as Everytown Research shows there is room for improvement in what the Mayor routinely calls the “most reckless set of gun policies in the nation.” Everytown agrees, noting Ohio ranks 33rd in the nation for gun law strength and averages over 1,700 deaths each year from gun violence statewide. 

Everytown outlines Ohio’s weak legislation saying: “Ohio has made very little progress with its weak gun safety laws, and in fact legislators are actively working to remove protections in the Buckeye State. Despite the state’s gun homicide rate increasing 94% over the past decade, lawmakers recently passed a dangerous Shoot First law, encouraging violence and vigilantism in public—and eliminated the requirement that a person get a permit and safety training before carrying a concealed gun in public. Lawmakers also recently passed a dangerous law which allows K–12 schools to arm teachers.”

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About the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Selection: The Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate program is meant to signal to our nearly 10 million supporters, volunteers, and gun safety voters across the country that if elected, a candidate will govern with gun safety in mind. This means they will stand for safer communities and advocate for better gun laws. Multiple candidates in a race can receive the distinction, and just like common-sense gun safety, it is non-partisan.