CLEVELAND — President Joe Biden addressed the nation in an impassioned speech Thursday night urging action to be taken following several deadly shootings across the nation.
Biden mentioned raising the age to purchase a gun from 18 to 21, banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and strengthening background checks in his speech.
"This isn't about taking anyone's rights, it's about protecting our freedom to go to school, to a grocery store, to a church without being shot and killed," said President Biden.
Bipartisan efforts on gun laws are underway, but it's an uphill battle.
State Senator Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) told 3News Friday that weapons made for war need to be taken off of streets to keep communities safe.
"It's possible to maintain a level of Second Amendment rights and the right to gun ownership, but at the same time limit the kinds of guns that were intended as weapons of war, not weapons for the community," Antonio said.
Right now in Ohio, House Bill 99 is awaiting Gov. Mike DeWine's signature. The bill would let teachers and school staff to carry guns in schools across the state while decreasing the amount of time needed for training.
"To suggest that we are just going to add more guns and that somehow that is going to make our children safer, we're talking about safety in schools, but in our communities as well just doesn't make sense," says Antonio.
3News reached out to several Republican and Democratic senators from Northeast Ohio on Friday, but Antonio was the only one to agree to an interview.
Antonio tells 3News that Ohio Democrats have introduced bills aiming to put limitations on guns, but getting everyone on the same side has been a major problem.
You can watch President Biden's address from Thursday night below:
Previous Reporting: