Attorney General Mike DeWine says there's a small population of Ohioans that are wreaking havoc on communities. These are criminals who have been in and out of prison for violent crimes at least twice and continue to carry firearms.
DeWine is supporting a bill in the Senate that would increase the possibility for more jail time if these repeat offenders are caught with a gun.
"There's always room-I believe-behind bars for those individuals who have demonstrated they're violent and whose presence in society continues to threaten the safety of our children and our families," DeWine said.
The Violent Career Criminal Act is a narrowed version of last session's bill. The convictions would now have to be within eight years of each other in order for the stiffer sentencing to apply.
Andy Chow at the Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News Bureau.