Push for Assault Weapons Ban in Columbus Ohio

Gun-rights advocates say a proposed citywide ban on assault weapons is a "propaganda" tool to demonize all guns as part of a nationwide campaign.

That is not the case, said Melinda Swan, chief of staff for Columbus City Council, which will consider the ban next week.

Councilman Michael Mentel is introducing the ban at today's council meeting. A public hearing on the proposal will come Thursday. . . .

Mentel simply is "advocating what he believes public policy ought to be," said City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer Jr., whose office worked on the legislation.

Buda said national antigun groups are testing assault-weapons bans in a Democratically controlled city friendly to such proposals. . . .