Gov. John Kasich will sign off on changes to Ohio gun law

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Despite a last minute push to urge Gov. John Kasich to veto House Bill 495, which changes the way people can carry guns in vehicles and where vehicles with guns could park, the governor’s office says he will sign the legislation.

On Sunday, the Dean of Cleveland’s Trinity Cathedral called on the governor to veto the changes in the wake of the tragedy in Newtown Connecticut.

Rev. Tracey Lind saying allowing guns in state parking garages, like the ones under the state house would put “at risk thousands of Ohio school children every year who come to our statehouse,” she said.

“I think it’s time that we all be able to stand up to the gun lobby and say enough,” said Lind. “I think it’s time for us to have a real conversation both at the state level and at the federal level about real gun reform, about violence in America, about what’s making people want to do this sort of violence and how can we curb that.”

Kasich, for his part in announcing his support for HB 495, agreed with the need for the conversation as a society about the bigger issues involved in the Sandy Hook shootings.

“I’m a Second Amendment supporter and that’s not going to change. There are a range of issues at play here involving mental health, school security and a culture that at times fails to reject the glorification of violence that can desensitize us to the sanctity and majesty of life,” said Kasich.

“Going forward, we need to pay close attention to what the experts conclude from this incident in order to see if there are lessons to be learned and applied here in Ohio.”