WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Ohio would ban so-called military-style assault weapons under a plan to be introduced Tuesday by Democratic state Sen. Eric Fingerhut.
Backed by several state anti-gun activists, Fingerhut is scheduled to unveil legislation prohibiting the manufacture, sale, possession and ownership in Ohio of certain types of semi-automatic pistols and rifles.
The Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, which supports the legislation, says the bill is an improvement over the existing federal assault weapons ban due to expire in Sept. 2004.
Fingerhut's legislation will be introduced at a press conference in the Ohio state capitol where participants will call on Ohio's two Republican U.S. senators -- Mike DeWine and George Voinovich -- to support federal legislation renewing the federal ban while making it tougher.
Fingerhut, a Democrat, is seeking his party's nomination to oppose Voinovich in the Nov. 2004 general election.
