COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Ohio House minority leader says she is skeptical the Republican-led Legislature will pass meaningful gun laws, and thinks electing Democrats in 2020 is the state’s best chance for change on that.

Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes, of Akron, commented Tuesday after Republican House Speaker Larry Householder said that while “all of us” want to keep communities safe, gun legislation is a “very difficult issue.”

Householder says discussions about taking guns from people or limiting constitutional rights are concerning.

Householder says legislative language for GOP Gov. Mike DeWine’s 17-point plan to curb gun violence is expected to be finalized soon. DeWine announced his plan in August after a shooter in Dayton killed nine people.

Sykes says Democrats will encourage constituents to engage legislators about expanding background checks for gun purchases.

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