GOP lawmaker whose daughter was near scene of Dayton mass murder proposes ban on 'military style' guns

A Republican congressman from Ohio has come out in support of a ban on "military style" guns after nine people were killed by a gunman in Dayton, Ohio, over the weekend, according to the Washington Post.

Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) issued a news release announcing his new stance Tuesday, also expressing support for magazine limits and "red flag" laws.

"I strongly support the Second Amendment, but we must prevent mentally unstable people from terrorizing our communities with military style weapons," Turner said in his statement. "I will support legislation that prevents the sale of military style weapons to civilians, a magazine limit, and red flag legislation. The carnage these military style weapons are able to produce when available to the wrong people is intolerable."

In his statement, Turner did not go into more specifics about what he meant by "military style" weapons. There has been momentum for "red flag" laws among congressional Republicans, which aim to allow guns to be confiscated by authorities from people identified as dangerous.

Turner's congressional district includes Dayton, and his daughter and a family friend were at a bar across the street from where the gunman initially opened fire.

"My daughter and a family friend had just entered the Tumbleweed Connection when the shooting began across the street," Turner tweeted Sunday. "Both reported the visible @DaytonPolice presence before the shooting and the bravery they witnessed as officers ran toward the gun shots.

"My daughter & friend fled into #OregonDistrict & contacted me at 2am," he continued. "As they ran home, I followed their progress & prayed for them & our community. Thank you to @DaytonPolice for their bravery in stopping this evil."

Turner has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association in the past, and has an A-rating with the organization, and opposed a House bill to expand gun background checks in February. He has also opposed bans on semi-automatic weapons in the past.

Turner said he plans to discuss his new gun control stance with President Donald Trump when the president visits Dayton on Wednesday.

"I look forward to continuing this debate with my colleagues in Congress, as well as discussing these measures with the President during his trip to Dayton," Turner's statement said.