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Rising Ammunition Prices Affecting Solon Police

Ammunition prices are rising for everyone, including Solon Police, since the Newtown massacre and a push for tighter gun restrictions.

The aftermath of the Newtown, Conn., school shooting has lead to a push for stricter gun control laws. That has lead the prices of guns and ammunition to skyrocket. These rises prices are affecting even the Solon Police Department. Chief Chris Viland said that ammunition is 200 percent to 300 percent more expensive, which he directly attributes to the political discussions occuring now about gun rights. Viland said that Solon Police essentially buys its ammo on the open market like other consumers, and that the ammo they need are often backordered. "There's just a shortage," he said. Viland said that he has budgeted to spend $2,000 more on ammunition in 2013, which doesn't sound like a large amount, but its a giant jump compared to what …

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School Safety Reforms Central to President Obama’s Gun Control Proposal

The Twinsburg schools work hard to stay up-to-date on safety policies and procedures.

President Barack Obama presented a sweeping set of gun control recommendations last week, with many focused directly on increasing safety measures in schools. According to the Politics K-12 blog, the proposals signal a shift in federal priorities—the proposals ask for increases in school safety and mental health counseling funding, areas the administration has sought to cut in the budget in recent years. Check out the Politics K-12 post for a more in-depth look at the proposals, which includes creating model emergency response plans for institutions like schools and providing $50 million for training for professionals like social workers and counselors who plan to work with young adults. The full text of the plan can also be found on the …

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Obama’s Gun Control Plan: Read The President's Proposals

President Barack Obama presented a wide-reaching proposal for the country’s gun control policies on Wednesday.

President Barack Obama presented a comprehensive gun control proposal to the country on Wednesday, about one month after the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. The Huffington Post reports that the proposal includes four major sections, focusing on topics like law enforcement, mental health, school safety and the availability of dangerous weapons. Many of these measures would require congressional action and could cost up to $500 million.  The president also announced more than 20 executive orders that can go into effect immediately, the New York Times reports. These include having the attorney general review the categories of people who are not allowed to have guns, reviewing safety standards for gun locks and safes and providing training …

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Gun Control Laws: Too Far or Not Far Enough?

The debate has heated up in the days after the school shooting in Connecticut.

What do you think about the gun laws in Ohio—are they not strict enough or do restrictions need to be scaled back? It’s a question that has recently taken on more weight in the days following a deadly school shooting in Connecticut.  Ohio’s gun laws have been becoming more lenient in recent years, the Columbus Dispatch reports, pointing to a variety of new laws. That includes one passed in 2011 to allow concealed-carry weapons in bars.  And it’s likely that the restrictions will loosen even further soon. Gov. John Kasich is expected to sign House Bill 495, NewsNet5.com reports. According to the most recent bill analysis, the bill would loosen reciprocity agreements with other states regarding concealed-carry permits, eliminate a …

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Dick’s, Walmart Suspend Sales of Certain Semi-Automatic Rifles—What Do You Think?

In wake of Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, Dick's has removed all guns from the store closest to Newtown, Conn.

In wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the world, has suspended sales of certain kinds of semi-automatic rifles from its store nationwide. The company, which is headquartered in Moon Township, PA, also has removed all guns from its chain closest to Newtown, Conn. The move follows a decision made by Walmart, which pulled the Bushmaster gun from its website on Monday. In a statement, Dick's said the move was made out of respect to the victims and families of Newtown. Friday’s shooting left 20 children, all between the ages of 6 and 7, and six adults dead. Dick's maintains a number of area stores. “We are extremely saddened by the unspeakable tragedy that …

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Ohio Democrats Split On Whether Gun Control Can Be A Winning Issue

Despite a renewed debate about guns in the wake of the Aurora, Colo., Northeast Ohio Democratic Insiders are divided on whether gun control could be a winning issue for Democrats this November.

Despite the renewed debate over gun control since the mass murder in Aurora, Colo., Northeast Ohio Democrats are mixed on whether the issue can be a winning one for their party this Fall. In Patch's latest survey of influential party members in Northeast Ohio, Democratic insiders were mixed on whether gun control was a battle worth fighting. About half said they thought the issue could galvanize the state's Democrats in November, but the other half also said that would be bad politics considering the strength of pro-gun interest groups and the overall acceptance of guns by Ohioans. "Gun control is bad politics in Ohio," said one insider who responded to the survey. "Only three Ohio Governors in the forty years since Kent State have been …

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