CLEVELAND — A top Cleveland police representative is calling on Gov. John Kasich to block people from bringing firearms into the city during the Republican National Convention.
Stephen Loomis, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association, wants Kasich to suspend the state’s open carry law in Cleveland after three police officers were killed and three others wounded by masked shooters on Sunday morning.
“We are sending a letter to Gov. Kasich requesting assistance from him, Loomis told CNN. “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. 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.”
The law allows licensed individuals to bring their guns to some public places near the RNC where protests are expected, though not into the actual arena where the convention is being held.
According to CNN, Kasich said he does not have the authority to suspend the open carry law.
“Ohio governors do not have the power to arbitrarily suspend federal and state constitutional rights or state laws as suggested,” Kasich said.
