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Democrats Propose “Pro-Life” Gun Bill In Response To Abortion Measures In State Budget

Two Democratic state lawmakers have introduced a bill requiring a state study on gun injuries. The bill is a slight tongue-in-cheek attack on majority Republicans for putting at the last-minute a provision in the state budget bill requiring ultrasounds for women who want abortions. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.

The bill from Representatives Bob Hagan of Youngstown and Mike Foley of Cleveland would require the Department of Health to conduct a study on the types of injuries that a gun user could cause. And Hagan says gun dealers would be required to provide a copy of that study to a gun buyer.

“This is a pro life bill. This is protecting life as we know it.”

Listening in on Hagan’s news conference was John Coates from Ohio Right to Life, which doesn’t take a position on gun legislation.

“We decided to also bring to people’s attention that a great crime, the great crisis exists...that there’s an abortion clinic in walking distance from every urban area in America.”

The Democrats and Coates agree that abortion rates have fallen in recent years in Ohio, but Hagan and Foley also say that gun deaths and injuries have been rising at the same time.

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.