The president of the Cleveland Police Patrolman’s Association, Steve Loomis made a request to Ohio Governor John Kasich asking him to restrict gun owners rights this week during the Republican National Convention following Sunday’s shootings that killed three police officers and wounded three more in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Through a letter, Loomis asked Kasich to create an executive order to temporarily ban open-carry gun laws which allows legal gun owners to wear their guns in public.
Loomis said he wouldn’t mind with temporarily breaking the law to protect police officers, fearing that an attack similar to the shooting in Baton Rouge could occur.
“Due to the tragic events which have taken place in Dallas and Baton Rouge as well as a number of recent shootings in the City of Cleveland, I have a high level of concern for the safety of the law enforcement working the RNC,” the letter wrote.
“Having individuals carrying firearms throughout the downtown area of Cleveland where passionate protestors from all parts of the world are converging only increases the potential for violence,” the letter said requesting an order to only have the ban on the event zone.
Citizens for Trump and Black on Black Crime, Inc., an organization that has marched in the past with Black Lives Matter-affiliated protestors are some of the groups at the RNC.
“We are sending a letter to Gov. Kasich requesting assistance from him. He could very easily do some kind of executive order or something — I don’t care if it’s constitutional or not at this point,” Loomis told CNN. “They can fight about it after the RNC or they can lift it after the RNC, but I want him to absolutely outlaw open-carry in Cuyahoga County until this RNC is over.”
“It’s irresponsible of those folks — especially right now — to be coming downtown with open carry ARs or anything else. I couldn’t care less if it’s legal or not.” Loomis said.
Responding the Loomis’ request, Kasich said, “Ohio governors do not have the power to arbitrarily suspend federal and state constitutional rights or state laws as suggested.”
