CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The head of the Cleveland police patrolmen's union is asking Ohio Gov. John Kasich to suspend the state's open carry laws in Cuyahoga County for the Republican National Convention in the wake of the deaths of three police officers in Louisiana, according to WJW-TV.

The station reported Sunday that union president Steve Loomis said he is working with an attorney to draft a request to be sent to Kasich for consideration. Reuters reported Loomis asked the governor to declare a state of emergency, which would allow Kasich to immediately suspend the law.

Ohio's open carry laws generally allow anyone without a felony record to carry guns in the state, including in downtown Cleveland. There are exceptions. Firearms are not permitted inside the U.S. Secret Service security zone around Quicken Loans Arena, where the RNC will be held Monday through Thursday.

"I don't care what the legal precedent is, I feel strongly that leadership needs to stand up and defend these police officers," Loomis, the head of the police union, told Reuters, on Sunday.

Kasich's spokeswoman, Emmalee Kalmbach, said the governor does not have the authority to suspend state and federal laws regarding open carry.

"Law enforcement is a noble, essential calling and we all grieve that we've again seen attacks on officers," Kalmbach said in a statement. "Ohio governors do not have the power to arbitrarily suspend federal and state constitutional rights or state laws as suggested. The bonds between our communities and police must be reset and rebuilt--as we're doing in Ohio--so our communities and officers can both be safe. Everyone has an important role to play in that renewal."

And Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution specifically limits the right to suspend laws to the legislature: "No power of suspending laws shall ever be exercised, except by the general assembly."

Brian Betley, who leads the Cleveland police union representing sergeants, lieutenants and captains, told cleveland.com he agrees with Loomis' request. Betley said he would contact the state's police officer's union to see what help they can offer.

"They would declare a state of emergency if something happened, but it's all too late at that point," Betley said. "Why not do it before something happens?"

Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued a statement also supporting Loomis' request.

"The RNC has already determined it's too dangerous to allow convention goers to carry firearms inside the convention center," Gross said. "Limiting open carry outside the event seems a natural next step, especially given the heightened tensions in our nation and today's tragedy in Baton Rouge."

Three law enforcement officers were killed early Sunday and three others were injured in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Officers there earlier this month shot and killed Alton Sterling, 37, sparking protests in that city and across the country. Five officers were killed at a Dallas Black Lives Matter protest the same week.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson told cleveland.com's Andrew Tobias last week that the city would not ask the governor to suspend the state's open carry laws.

"If we believed there was a cooperative venture that could result in a positive outcome on a temporary basis it would have happened by now," Jackson said.

Loomis is also asking Police Chief Calvin Williams to have three officers working at intersections for security at the RNC, instead of one.