As Ohio lawmakers consider whether to loosen restrictions on carrying concealed weapons, they heard Wednesday how the threat of a school shooting has plagued students in elementary and high schools since the infamous Columbine killings in 1999.

The proposal, sponsored by Reps. Ron Hood, R-Ashville, and Tom Brinkman, R-Cincinnati, would allow anyone 21 or older, who is not prohibited by federal law due to a felony conviction or other prohibitive factors, to carry a concealed deadly weapon without a permit or training.

The legislation’s opponents, many of them wearing bright red shirts supplied by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, voiced concerns that the bill does not take the safety of Ohioans to heart. “The League of Women Voters believes that the proliferation of handguns and semi-automatic assault weapons in the United States is a major safety threat to its citizens,” said Rosie Craig, the gun control specialist for the Ohio branch of the group. “Now, this legislative body would have us throw out virtually all restrictive measures to those who wish to carry any weapon, concealed or openly so long as the ‘weapon’ is not otherwise prohibited by federal law.”

Under another provision of the bill, anyone with a concealed handgun license and certain military personnel would not have to notify a law enforcement officer that they are licensed to carry and that they are carrying when stopped by a law enforcement officer. This provision has drawn criticism from sheriffs and other law enforcement officials across the state.

Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz, the president of the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association, testified that losing the notification requirement poses a risk to the protection of law enforcement officers. “When the officer was made aware of the permit, they have less reason to believe that the person they are in contact with has any intention of violating the law,” he said. “This helps separate law-abiding citizens from the criminals we arrest.”

Hood and Brinkman garnered 27 co-sponsors for the bill, meaning it is supported by nearly half of all Republicans in the House. Gov. Mike DeWine has also given his support to the concept of the bill.