I’m a Gun Owner, Veteran, and Parent. I Demand Better than Andrea White’s stance on firearms
As a parent, my greatest fear is that one day I will send my child to school and that will be the last day I see them. The thought of a shooter walking into their classroom, armed and ready to do the unthinkable, keeps me up at night. Yet, our current representative, Andrea White, seems more concerned with appeasing the gun lobby than protecting our children.
Let me be clear: I am a gun owner and a veteran. I believe in the Second Amendment and I proudly exercise my right to bear arms. I don’t want to ban guns. I do want to ensure that responsible gun owners understand the consequences and responsibility that the right to bear arms demands of us. That is why I am deeply troubled by Andrea White’s apathetic stance on common sense gun legislation.
Andrea White has consistently failed Ohio families like mine when it comes to gun safety. In June 2021, she voted for House Bill 99, allowing teachers to carry firearms in schools with minimal training. Under this bill, teachers need only 24 hours of instruction before carrying a gun in our classrooms. This is less time than it takes to become a licensed barber in Ohio, not to mention less training time than what’s required of those who defend our Nation.
Another example of her poor gun safety record is her March 2022 vote on Senate Bill 215, which eliminated the requirement for Ohioans to obtain a permit or undergo training before carrying a concealed weapon. Andrea’s position on this bill was so radical that law enforcement came out against it, stating that if SB 215 passed, it would lead to more officers getting shot.
It is deeply concerning that, despite the rising number of school shootings in our country, Andrea has repeatedly chosen to side with the gun lobby rather than stand up for common sense gun laws. She has shown time and again that she is unwilling to take meaningful action to keep our children safe.
This November, we have an opportunity to elect someone who won’t shrug off gun violence. Rose Lounsbury, a former school teacher and a mother of triplets, is running against Andrea White for the Ohio House. Rose has vowed to introduce common sense gun reform. She understands that responsible gun ownership doesn't mean guns in schools and permitless concealed carry.
Rose has promised to fight for background checks, mandatory waiting periods, red flag laws, and bans on high-capacity magazines. These are the types of measures that could make a real difference in preventing future school shootings. Unlike Andrea White, Rose Lounsbury is not beholden to the gun lobby; she is committed to protecting our children and teachers and she is the best choice for ensuring our children make it to their graduation alive.
BY Ciara Rayne K.
Kettering
