By Halena Sepulveda
Broadcast version by Emily Scott reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration.

Even though Ohio has been relaxing gun laws for years, some fear the "constitutional carry" bill that was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine this week, could lead to more domestic violence incidents around the state.

"We are actually worried about the increase in loss of life," said Michaela Deming, Policy Director for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.

On March 14, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215 into law. It eliminates the requirement that all individuals carrying a concealed weapon obtain a concealed carry license and complete the proper training to receive a permit. It is the latest law loosening gun restrictions in Ohio. In 2015, HB 234 relaxed requirements to obtain a concealed carry permit. In 2017, the state enacted Senate Bill 199, also referred to as Ohio's "campus carry bill," allowing firearms on university campuses, and in April 2021 Senate Bill 175, the "stand your ground" law was passed, making Ohio the 36th state to no longer require individuals to retreat before using a firearm in self-defense.

Ohio's Lack of Restrictions

As of March 2021, Ohio has no state laws that prohibit individuals convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from possessing a firearm. The state also has no laws requiring the removal of a firearm from individuals after the issuance of a domestic violence protective order unless the firearm has been used to threaten or harm victims.

However, the state does adhere to federal law when dealing with previously convicted individuals possessing firearms.

Federal legislation such as the Lautenberg Amendment works to give a general blanket of protection regarding gun laws no matter what state an individual lives in. The Lautenberg Amendment declares it a felony on a federal level for any individual previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence to possess a firearm.

Due to this application of federal law, the Ohio legislature has not left domestic violence victims completely defenseless regarding gun laws and restrictions placed on people convicted of domestic abuse. But Dr. Michelle Grim, chair of Toledo City Council's Health Promotion and Access Committee, says abusers have found ways to get around these restrictions.

"Ohio has some pretty weak domestic violence firearm laws," says Dr. Grim. "There are a lot of loopholes."

One loophole in the Lautenberg Amendment, which Dr. Grim referred to as "the Boyfriend Loophole," only prevents individuals with previous misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence from possessing a firearm when the offender was a current or former spouse of the victim, currently lived with the victim, was similarly situated with a spouse, guardian or parent of a victim or shared a child with the victim. This meant that individuals who committed domestic violence on a partner with whom they did not live or share a child were still able to purchase and possess a firearm.

Gun Laws in Domestic Violence Cases

After the passing of the Stand Your Ground Law in April of last year, Ohio reported a total of 131 domestic violence fatalities in the year period beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2021; this being the most recent data collected on a statewide level that depicts the correlation between gun laws and domestic violence fatalities.

On a national level, states that have enacted laws prohibiting individuals convicted of any violent misdemeanor from possessing a firearm were met with a 21% reduction in firearm intimate partner homicide. This shows that stricter gun laws can directly impact domestic violence fatality rates, something for which many Ohio Democrats demand more action.

"There is an 11 times higher risk of a fatal domestic violence incident when a firearm is present," Deming says. "Removing firearms from these dangerous domestic violence offenders is one of the best ways that we have of decreasing domestic violence related fatalities in the state."

Deming says that in the state of Ohio, around 86% of domestic violence fatalities are perpetrated with a gun. Studies show that nationally, an average of 70 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner every month. Domestic violence organizations across the state worry that the passing of SB 215 could result in an even greater increase in domestic violence fatalities.

What SB 215 Will Change in Ohio

Under the new legislation, three basic changes will be made to the state's gun laws that will affect individuals across the state of Ohio:

● Ohioans no longer need training or a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
● People carrying concealed weapons do not need to carry a license with them.
● Gun owners no longer need to promptly notify police officers of the presence of a firearm.

The legislation, also known as "constitutional carry," has been a goal for many firearms organizations and lobbyist groups on both a national and state level. The Buckeye Firearms Association in Ohio is one proponent of the bill and argues that the bill has no correlation in the case of domestic violence fatalities or instances.

"It [SB 215] won't change who can own a firearm," says Executive Director Dean Rieck. "The same laws apply right now that will apply later." Rieck stresses that will not have an effect on who can legally possess a firearm, but only where they can take it.

"Domestic violence is happening in the home, we're talking about carrying outside of the home. I see zero relationship between those two things," he said.

On the other hand, Ohio Democrats called on Governor DeWine to veto the bill, fearing the negative consequences it could have on a statewide level.

"There's gun violence everywhere," says Dr. Grim, who stressed the importance of calling attention to and discussing the impacts of gun violence in all parts of the state. "It's not just our cities, it's our rural areas [too]."

Along with members of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and other domestic violence organizations statewide, The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police and The Ohio Mayor's Alliance opposed S.B. 215 due to, among other reasons, the burden individuals such as Dr. Grim feels it places on law enforcement.

"It's going to be a dangerous situation for citizens and also for police officers," she said.

This collaboration is produced in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.

The Me Too movement prompted sexual abuse victims to come forward with their allegations of rape and harassment. Yet, the increase in these occurrences both nationally and statewide show repeated incidents.

Sexual violence is a nonconsensual act, either through physical or verbal behavior.

The Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking is an advocacy, training and technical assistance resource for people who have faced sexual violence.

Coalition President and CEO Beth White explained the state's most vulnerable targets are often silent.

"We are worse for high school girls who experienced sexual violence while in high school, we are worse for the general population as well," said White. "So, when someone comes forward to report that this has happened to them, we always say a number of things that are important. Number one, we start by believing that people don't generally make false allegations about this problem."

An Indiana University report shows females in 9th-12th grades in Indiana schools have the second highest rate in the nation of forced sexual intercourse.

This month, the organization will open the state's sixteenth rape crisis center, Hope's Voice will serve Davies and Knox counties in southeastern Indiana.

The centers are commonly co-located with a domestic violence shelter, or another social service organization.

Researchers say sexual assault survivors should understand the perpetrator seeks to take away power and control - and most survivors do not file a police report or tell a friend, family member, or teacher out of embarrassment or shame.

White pointed out the coalition emphasizes the importance of regaining the control that has been taken away, and she works to encourage communities to talk about the issue and seek solutions, which are often multifaceted.

"Indiana has a problem," said White, "and we want people to know there is help, there is hope and there is healing that can occur when people do come forward if they feel that they can."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show survivors are more prone to smoke, abuse alcohol and drugs and engage in risky sexual activity after their experience.

The assault can also impact a survivor's ability to work, attend school or maintain personal relationships.

As federal Victims of Crime Act funding continues to impact Kentucky's domestic violence shelters, advocates say they are applauding lawmakers decisions to include $6 million of the state budget's general fund for shelter and program operations, alongside a one-time allocation of $7.1 million to offset the impact of VOCA cuts.

ZeroV's CEO Angela Yannelli said the funding will ensure life-saving programs for people in crisis continue to serve those who rely on them - and who often have no where else to turn.

"We are extremely grateful to the General Assembly for listening to us," said Yannelli. "We've been talking about this since the interim session, about how VOCA has really impacted us."

According to the latest report from the National Network to End Domestic Violence, last year more than 1,000 adult and child survivors relied on Kentucky's emergency shelters and programs, that provide transitional housing, transportation, housing advocacy, legal support, therapy, and other supportive services.

Darlene Thomas, who is executive director of a Fayette County shelter, Greenhouse 17, said without continued funding, her organization would lose the ability to provide holistic wraparound services for survivors and their children.

"Housing, emergency financial assistance, help with getting back to employment," said Thomas, "we do all of the pieces to help people move from crisis to self sufficiency."

The state has also taken steps to protect survivors who want to exercise their right to vote.

A new program allows survivors of crimes, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking, to hide their address on public records, including from voter rolls.

More information about the Safe at Home program is on the Kentucky Secretary of State's website.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Ohio is expanding its qualified rape crisis centers serving rural areas in the central and southeastern regions of the state.

Taylr Ucker-Lauderman, chief engagement officer with the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, explained that qualified centers have to meet certain criteria, and typically provide crisis intervention, legal and medical assistance, counseling and referrals to other local resources. She said collaboration among centers to assist sexual abuse survivors and educate the public about violence prevention is critical.

"One really exciting outcome of 2023 is that we did see two additional rape crisis centers identified as qualified rape crisis centers, which means that they are supported by the Alliance," Ucker-Lauderman said.

One in four women and about one in 26 men have experienced completed or attempted rape, according to the CDC. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline. It's available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-656-4673.

Ucker-Lauderman added survivors of sexual assault often need housing and other basic resources, noting these services are especially needed in geographically isolated areas, and are often unavailable if domestic violence isn't co-occurring. Rape crisis centers may be one of the few options sexual violence survivors have.

"That means increasing the capacity of the service providers across the state, making sure that they have the training that they need, the funding, the staff," she said.

Molly MacMath, executive director of COMPASS Rape Crisis Center in Northeastern Ohio, said while centers, hospitals and police departments play a critical role in preventing sexual violence, communities should be working to come up with creative ways to approach the issue.

"There's so many other entities within our communities that really play a role in the awareness and prevention of violence," MacMath said.

According to Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence's annual report, last year rape crisis centers across the state provided 556 nights of shelter through the Alliance's Meaningful Access Housing Program.