Oxford Mayor On Spike In Gun-Related Violence: 'It Terrifies Me'

BY MAGGIE CALLAGHAN

Miami University Journalism Student

Ask Oxford's mayor about gun violence in the bucolic college town and she doesn't mince words.

“It terrifies me,” Kate Rousmaniere said.

Since 2016, Oxford police have recorded 25 crimes involving a gun, three of them within the past two months. But the surge isn't tied to any particular crime:

• In several, guns were used in robberies.
• On Sept. 20, a man woke up in his car to another man pointing at gun at his face.
• On Sept. 18, a man was assaulted by an unknown suspect.
• A teen was sentenced in August or carrying a gun in the Uptown park.
• And last October, two Miami students were shot in a robbery attempt at an off-campus house.

The Oxford Police Department Chief said he is stunned by the steady rise of gun incidents in town.

“Violent crime in general has been on the uptick,” said Chief John Jones. “Over the past year or so, we have seen more armed robberies and brazen incidents involving a gun.”

Jones said drug-related activity and the opiod epidemic are fueling the spike. In response, he said, officers have shifted their patrol units to the northwest neighborhoods, where they have seen more robberies.

The Debate on Gun Control
With the surge in gun crime, and upcoming City Council elections, safety and security in Oxford have become some of the most prominent issues around town.

Edna Southard is currently running for re-election to council and has been a resident of Oxford for 24 years.

The increase in crime is very evident to her.

“We are definitely hearing about these types of crimes more often,” said Southard. “I want to see an Oxford that draws creativity whether that comes from tourists or not and we can’t have economic vitality without safety and security for everyone.”

The rise in incidents has community members talking about ways to decrease the crime rate, but not everyone appears to be on the same page.

Southard, Rousmaniere and Jones all agree that guns are easily accessible, but they do not all agree on how that impacts crime.

“We have to keep guns out of the hands of people who are dangerous,” said Southard.

To do that, she favors restricting access to guns.Southard and Rousmaniere both note that consumers can buy a gun at Walmart.

Rousmaniere has studied what other towns are doing to prevent gun violence. She discovered an ordinance passed in Oberlin that restricted guns in the city park, even though Ohio state law says that you can legally carry a weapon in public with a permit. Oberlin City Council voted in September 2016 to allow guns back into the park.

“As Mayor, I don’t have an opinion on [stricter gun control],” said Rousmaniere. “But personally, I do believe there needs to be stricter rules.”

Jones isn’t convinced that stricter rules will stop crime.

“I do believe that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is to have good guy with a gun,” said Jones. “You can’t add a regulation that is going to stop people from finding a way to use a gun.”

But in the aftermath of the deadliest shooting in American history in Las Vegas on October 1, more Americans are in support of gun control than ever before. According to a Politico article published on October 11, 64 percent of Americans are in favor of gun control. Another 79 percent of Americans support banning ‘bump stocks,'' which is a device that can be attached a gun to convert a semi-automatic gun to fully automatic.

Approved Indoor Shooting Range

Gun control was a hot topic last year when there was debate over the construction of an indoor shooting range.

The plans were approved for the building in 2016 and the permits for the new building were approved on April 21, 2017.

The 12,000 square foot building is currently under construction on 11 acres located at 6711 Ringwood Road, just off the corner from U.S Route 27.

Owner Jeff Day and Architect Scott Webb expect to serve between 30 to 40 customers a day.

“I voted against it,” said Southard. “I don’t think we should have guns within the city limits. But it passed and that’s how democracy works.”

Gun Safety
Luke Schroder, a Miami University sophomore from Troy has been shooting guns since he was 11 years old. He likes the idea of having a indoor shooting range in town as he thinks that can help with gun safety.

“When you are growing up, there are certain things that your parents teach you to stay safe,” said Schroder. “Like not running with scissors or to not touch knives in the kitchen. The government doesn’t mandate something like that. There are certain processes necessary when owning things and for guns, it has to be how to use them safely.”

Schroder shoots for sport, he said.

“Growing up, it was something to do,” said Schroder. “I am not a hunter but it is still a sport."

Miami University started a weapons storage program for students four years ago. According to Miami University Police Detective Lt. Jim Bechtolt, they currently have approximately 24 weapons in storage, ranging from firearms, arrows and bows.

“We realized that there wasn’t anywhere safe for students to store their weapons,” said Bechtolt.

According to Bechtolt, that number has stayed pretty steady since the program began. The proposal for the new shooting range also suggested that they too would have space for weapon storage.

The Future Impact
Rousmaniere said gun control is not related to the range.

“I have heard people complain that there was no place for them to practice,'' she said. ".But now we got them the space to practice safely.”

Oxford police may use the range for its training. Currently, officers train at a site in Hamilton.

Cutline 1-Luke Schroeder, a Miami University Student practices shooting an AR-15 in a friend's backyard. Schroeder grew up in a rural area and learned how to shoot a gun for means of self defense. It is a tradition in family, where the grandfather will pass down their shot guns to their grandson.--Photo contributed by Luke Schroeder

Cutline-Construction for a new indoor shooting range began at 6711 Ringwood road in June. There is not an official opening date, but they have already completed the infrastructure of the building and outlined the long driveway. All but one person, Edna Southard, approved the shooting range.--Photo contributed by Maggie Callaghan