With the shootings in Connecticut fresh in mind, members of faith community in Ohio are speaking out. The Rev. Tracey Lind at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland is leading the charge against a loosening of gun restrictions.
Many pastors throughout Northeast Ohio Sunday began their sermons with prayers for the 28 people who died last Friday, 20 of them 6- and 7-year olds. But Tracey Lind quickly switched gears to talk about an Ohio bill lawmakers passed Thursday, which is awaiting Gov. John Kasich’s signature.
“House Bill 495 is going to increase the potential for future tragedies by allowing a gun, and specifically semi-automatic weapons and their magazines, to be transported in the same vehicle. And it will also allow people to have their firearms in their cars in the Statehouse parking garage,” says Lind.
She’s asking parishioners to write to Kasich, pressing him to veto the bill.
The legislation was authored by freshman state Rep. Terry Johnson from rural southern Ohio. He says it’s designed to make existing gun laws easier to understand, enforce and follow.