Kasich signs executive order to improve state’s gun background check system

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) signed an executive order on Monday aimed at improving state compliance with the national gun background check system.

Kasich signed an order calling on three government agencies to reconvene and study how well state courts and law enforcement are reporting data to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). 

“This data’s not being reported,” Kasich said. “So you have people who are felons with data not being put into the NICS system, and people who have no business having guns have these guns.”

{mosads}

The executive order gives the agencies authority to speak with law enforcement and court clerks to gather data on NICS reporting practices and flaws.

The committee will then report back to determine whether the system is being updated in a timely and accurate manner.

The executive order follows a report by The Cincinnati Enquirer that found dozens of state courts often failed to update NICS, creating a loophole for convicted criminals to purchase weapons. 

“The issue is not going to go away,” Kasich said Monday. “But this is an effort here to move quickly, to get something done and the legislation will be a follow on to all this and we’ll go from there.”

The executive order comes nearly two months after Kasich released a series of proposals aimed at curbing gun violence in the state. The governor unveiled his proposals following a Feb. 14 shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school that left 17 people dead.

Kasich called for state laws that would address bump stocks and create gun violence protection orders, which would allow authorities to confiscate weapons from an individual who is deemed a danger to themselves or others.

Ohio lawmakers have reportedly introduced bills to address several of the proposals, though it’s unclear if they will pass the GOP-controlled state legislature.