Deputies confiscate AR-15 and ammo from potential Ohio school shooter

Despite Governor John Kasich's (R) claims that a so-called "red flags" provision in his gun control bill (HB 585) is needed to allow law enforcement to confiscate firearms from potential threats, the Allen Co. (OH) sheriff's office proved last week that existing law is well up to the task.

From NationalReview.com:

Another school shooting was prevented on Thursday when four Ohio students warned police about a former student who said that he planned to shoot up their school.

Four students at Elida High School in Lima, Ohio told the Allen County Sheriff’s Office that former student Tristan Ascura, 19, had warned them not to go to school this September 1 because he was going to “shoot it up,” the Lima News reported. Just a few hours later, authorities arrested Ascura at his home.

The sheriff’s deputies found and confiscated an AR-15 rifle and 500 rounds of 0.556 caliber ammunition that they found in the young man’s possession.

According to the article, the accused was no longer a student after his poor attendance record caused the school to administratively withdraw him in April. He remains in Allen County Jail on charges of inducing panic.

“Our office doesn’t waste any time going after these people and we’re never going to,” said Administrative Lieutenant Andre McConnahea. “We’re going to charge them every time.”

That's an interesting remark from the Allen Co. Sheriff's office, considering that Gov. John Kasich suggests his gun control bill is needed before law enforcement can charge potential threats and confiscate their firearms.

Buckeye Firearms Association has announced its strong opposition to HB 585, which is being put forward by Kasich in response to high-profile mass killings in Nevada and Florida.

The governor and other responsible parties in government are all-too eager to blame and punish law-abiding gun owners who had absolutely nothing to do with these sick acts.

There should be no more talk of laws which only punish the law-abiding.

There should be no talk of mandating government control over private sales of guns between individuals.

Instead, those who are truly seeking to make a difference should focus their efforts on improving our mental health system, securing our schools, eliminating so-called "gun free" victim zones, ensuring that government entities input their data into the national database, and punishing violent offenders to fullest extent of the law.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is co-founder of BFA-PAC, and served as its Vice Chairman for 15 years. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.