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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) Is this the one?

Like Morpheus seeking the Chosen One inside The Matrix ... have two relatively new GOP lawmakers come up with a proposal designed to reduce gun violence that will actually win approval from Ohio's gun-friendly legislature?

Reps. Josh Williams, a criminal defense attorney from the Toledo area, and Bernie Willis, a Clark County deputy from Springfield, already are starting out ahead of their predecessors as well as Gov. Mike DeWine whose proposals crashed and burned in the name of the Second Amendment.

But the newbies say they already have backing from a major gun rights group, the Buckeye Firearms Association, as well as a pledge of neutrality from a rival organization, Ohio Gun Owners.

Willis said numerous meetings with critics of previous legislation on the divisive issue resulted in a new approach.

"We came into this knowing that Second Amendment organizations would certainly take a very tight and harsh look at this to make sure that we are doing the right thing, that we are starting with the presupposition that our Second Amendment rights are preserved," he said during a Statehouse news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Williams said: "With this legislation, we will continue to fight for the Second Amendment rights of citizens to keep and bear arms while simultaneously removing guns from the hands of violent felons."

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost was asked about the prospects of this measure when so many have failed before.

"So, first of all, this is a new proposal," he said. "This represents a new take, a different kind of balance. And yes, I'm actually kind of an optimist this bill might move forward because it doesn't target the law-abiding gun owners. It targets criminals who use guns."

Making a subtle reference to internal divisions wracking the House and vastly slowing the pace of legislation passing, Yost said, "I'm confident that if this does not make it this time, it won't be because of the bill."

He is advocating passage because "it will make our cities safer. It will take guns off the street that belong to the bad guys and not affect the rights of law-abiding citizens."

Chris Clark, unopposed in the November election to become Clark County sheriff next year, said he likes the bill because "it's pointed precisely at the bad actor and not the firearm."

He also told ABC 6, "It's time someone stood up and says enough is enough."

Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, active for years in the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association, said it's too early for the group to consider an endorsement. But it's the type of legislation he says sheriffs could support.

So can Gov. Mike DeWine.

"The governor remains supportive of efforts to address the repeat violent offenders who commit the overwhelming majority of gun crimes in our state, who unlike lawful gun owners are often already legally prohibited from possessing firearms, and to make sure that our system has the appropriate penalties to discourage repeated gun crimes," said press secretary Dan Tierney.

DeWine has tried numerous times to go after frequent offenders, offering plans as attorney general shortly after the Sandy Hook mass shooting of school children; a proposal that was part of his response to demonstrators' shouts to "do something" after the 2019 mass shooting in Dayton's Oregon District; a section in his 2021 state budget; and admonitions in his State of the State address.

None passed.

Simply stated, the Repeat Offender Act would increase penalties for those who use a gun despite being barred from owning one because of an earlier conviction for a violent crime. The central premise stems from statistics that show the majority of gun crime in Ohio is committed by a handful of repeat offenders barred from having guns.

Concentrating on these offenders will go a long way toward alleviating the state's problems with gun violence, supporters said.

"I'm tired of turning on the news in Toledo and seeing four- and six-year-olds die in my community from stray bullets," Williams said. "I'm tired of turning on the news and knowing that there was a 4th of July block party in my community where over 80 rounds from AR15s and AK-47s were fired... This legislation will give our cities and towns the tools necessary to keep their communities safe and combat the epidemic of violent crimes in our state."

The plan also would automatically wipe out records of fourth- or fifth-degree felony convictions in five years presuming they didn't include violence or a sex crime. Williams acknowledged the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association opposes the measure simply because of that provision.

Williams noted that county prosecutors will be the front lines of bringing the enhanced charges on gun violence.

"We need prosecutors of all 88 counties to really consider gun crimes a serious problem in our state. And what's going to happen is we're giving you stronger and stronger tools to use in your community."

If prosecutors won't use those tools to combat gun crimes, it will be up to voters to take action, the state representative said.

The other variable, of course, is judges.

"What we can do is draft legislation and show sure legislative intent to judges," Williams said.

"We can draft sentencing guidelines that show what we want to be done. And in some instances, we can try to help the judge by saying you must give the maximum but at the same time we gave some discretion."

Eric Delbert, a Columbus gun range owner who's followed the debate over guns for years, said the bill itself may be good but will depend on what judges do with it.

"It doesn't matter at the end of the day because simply the judges have the ultimate discretion," he told 6 On Your Side.

drowland@sbgtv.com

@darreldrowland

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Can this gun violence bill actually pass the Ohio legislature? GOP sponsors say yes - The CW Columbus