As the Ohio Council of Churches — a 105-year-old statewide body uniting 17 denominations as a movement of Jesus Christ for unity, justice, and peace — we come together in lament. Since 2022, at the request of the former Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, we have committed ourselves to the work of gun violence prevention in our communities. Today we grieve the countless lives lost — in 2023 alone, 46,728 people in the United States died by firearms, an average of one death every 11 minutes, and here in Ohio nearly 690 lives were taken by homicide, over 1,000 by suicide, and dozens of children and youth whose futures were cut short. This grief is not abstract for us: members of our own Council have been directly affected by gun violence, and so we hold all who mourn in prayer before the God who is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).

 

Biblical Foundations

The OCC stands united against gun violence because of our belief that human life is sacred. This core belief forms the bedrock of our anti-gun violence stance. It is based on the following biblical principles:

 

• The sanctity of human life (Genesis 1:26)

• Love of neighbor (Matthew 22:39)

• Peace and nonviolence (Matthew 5:9)

• Social Justice bringing God’s shalom into being (Micah 6:8)

 

Weaknesses in Current Ohio Law

As followers of Christ, we cannot separate our call to do justice from the urgent need to examine the policies shaping daily life in our state. Ohio’s current firearm laws contain serious weaknesses that place children, families, and whole communities at risk. Naming these gaps is a first step in our witness for peace.

 

• No universal background checks: Private sales and transfers are not required to go through background checks, creating loopholes.

• No permit required to purchase firearms: Handguns, rifles, and shotguns can be purchased without a state permit or license.

• Permit less /constitutional carry (since 2022): Adults 21+ may carry concealed handguns without a permit, training, or background check beyond federal minimums.

• Age restrictions limited: No comprehensive minimum age for possession in all circumstances; only certain restrictions on sales (under 18 for long guns, under 21 for handguns).

• Weak safe-storage/child access laws: Ohio lacks strong requirements to secure firearms from children or unauthorized users, despite firearms being the leading cause of death for Ohio youth.

• Preemption of local authority: Cities and counties are barred from passing stricter gun laws tailored to local violence conditions.

• Limited crime-gun tracing/enforcement: Gaps in resources for law enforcement to trace guns and enforce prohibitions.

• Public health & equity concerns: Weaker regulations interact with systemic inequities (poverty, racism, disinvestment) to magnify risks in certain communities.

 

Legislative Recommendations

We call upon Ohio’s lawmakers and leaders to enact evidence-based policies proven to save lives:

 

• Require universal background checks on all firearm sales, and to close loopholes that allow firearms to be obtained without oversight.

• Ban assault rifles and kits that change guns into automatic weapons, including high capacity magazines.

• Require safe storage and locking devices for guns to protect children, households, and those with mental illnesses.

• Require firearms safety training for all concealed- and open-carry permits in Ohio.

• Enact red-flag laws and extreme risk protection orders that empower families and courts to temporarily remove firearms from those at imminent risk of harming themselves or others.

• Strengthen local control over gun laws (state legislators can now override local laws).

• Support community-based violence prevention programs, trauma-informed care for survivors, and expanded access to mental health services.

 

Congregational Recommendations

We call upon Ohio’s congregational members and leaders to:

 

• Publicly declare our churches as gun-free sacred spaces, posting signage where appropriate.

• Make sure our own guns are safely stored and locked so that no others (in or out of the household) can access them.

• Participate in and lead nonviolence and peacemaking training.

• Engage our youth and families in conversations about conflict resolution, mental health, and gun safety.

• Observe national awareness days (e.g., Wear Orange weekend, Gun Violence Awareness Month) to raise visibility in our communities.

• Educate our congregations by hosting forums, Bible studies, and film screenings on the moral and public health impacts of gun violence.

• Advocate with legislators by writing letters, calling representatives, and hosting town halls in our church spaces.

• Host prayer vigils, memorial services, and liturgies of lament to honor victims of gun violence in our communities.

• Build partnerships with local organizations (schools, neighborhood associations, and public health groups) working on violence prevention.

• Organize safe-storage awareness events (partner with law enforcement, hospitals, and nonprofits to distribute gun locks and safes).

• Promote “Guns to Gardens” initiatives, where unwanted firearms are safely dismantled and repurposed into garden tools or art.

• Offer pastoral care and support groups for families and survivors of gun violence, integrating trauma-informed ministry.

 

Conclusion: Our Commitment and Our Prayer

Our advocacy on this subject stems from our personal pain as faith leaders who have had to attempt to comfort families affected and eulogize the victim. We pray the day comes soon when we no longer have to bury our parents, children, siblings, and friends whose lives have been cut short by gun violence. Therefore, we invite every judicatory of the Ohio Council of Churches to endorse this statement, to join a dedicated task group on gun violence prevention, and to encourage their congregations to take action in their local communities. Together, we can transform our grief into witness. It is our prayer that God’s abundance, safety, and shalom will be realized in our lifetimes. Amen.

 

Bibliography

Associated Press. “Judge: Ohio Can’t Bar Cincinnati from Regulating Guns.” AP.News, March 2023. https://apnews.com/article/a5f5a92e2f81810669dd195110b52eca.

 

Botnick Law Firm. “Ohio Gun Laws.” The.Botnick.Law.Firm. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://www.botnicklawfirm.com/ohio-gun-laws/.

 

Buchanan, Anna Staver. “DeWine Signs Law Removing Training, Background Check, Permitting Requirement to Conceal Carry.” Ohio.Capital.Journal, March 15, 2022. https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2022/03/15/dewine-signs-law-removing-training-background-check-permitting-requirement-to-conceal-carry/.

 

Everytown for Gun Safety. “Ohio Gun Laws.” Everytown.Research.and.Policy. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://everytownresearch.org/rankings/state/ohio/.

 

FindLaw. “Ohio Gun Control Laws.”

FindLaw. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://www.findlaw.com/state/ohio-law/ohio-gun-control-laws.html.

 

Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “Background Check Procedures in Ohio.” Giffords. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://giffords.org/lawcenter/state-laws/background-check-procedures-in-ohio/.

 

“Child Access Prevention and Safe Storage in Ohio.” Giffords. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://giffords.org/lawcenter/state-laws/child-access-prevention-and-safe-storage-in-ohio/.

 

Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Social.Drivers.of.Violence.and.Crime.in.Ohio¡ Columbus: HPIO, 2021. https://www.healthpolicyohio.org/files/publications/cjandhealthsocialdriversviolencecrimefinal.pdf.

 

National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. “Ohio Gun Laws.” NRA‗ILA. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-gun-laws/ohio/.

 

Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services. Report.on.NICS.and.Gun.Violence.in.Ohio¡ Columbus: Ohio Department of Public Safety, 2021. https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ocjs.ohio.gov/links/CJS0057.pdf.