Poll: Should Ohio's Open Carry Gun Law Be Suspended During the GOP Convention?

Demonstrators march by Cleveland police during a “Shut Down Trump” protest on Sunday. (Alex Brandon / AP)

Following attacks on police in Dallas and Baton Rouge, La., Cleveland’s police union is calling for suspension of Ohio’s open carry gun law during this week’s Republican convention.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has rejected the police plea, saying through a spokesman that he is powerless to ban legal firearms in the vicinity of the convention. (The Secret Service has banned firearms inside Quicken Loans Arena, where the GOP faithful were gathering Monday).

Protest groups, including Bikers for Trump, the white-supremacist Traditionalist Workers Party and the New Black Panther Party, are reportedly heading to Cleveland, braced for trouble in the streets.

In an emotional news conference after the Baton Rouge incident Sunday, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux warned that if the “madness” of police assassinations continues, “we will surely perish as a people.”

Truthdig wants you to weigh in: Should Ohio’s open carry law be suspended during the convention?

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Should Ohio’s open carry gun law be suspended during the GOP convention?

Truthdig is live blogging about the 2016 GOP convention all week, and photojournalist Michael Nigro will cover what’s happening in the streets of Cleveland. Tune in to Truthdig for news, analysis and commentary.

—Posted by Gregory Glover

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