Casey Putsch for Ohio Governor: The Real Deal When It Comes to Guns

“Should Ohio Gun Owners Push for Putsch?” I asked in “Ramaswamy's Ohio Governor Bid.” The article highlights the Second Amendment position of both Ohio GOP pick Vivek Ramawamy and of his primary challenger, automotive designer Casey Putsch, who calls himself “the ONLY truly Pro-2A candidate for Ohio Governor.” The Democrat in the race, Dr. Amy Acton, is, of course, solidly in the anti-gun camp.

With Ramaswamy being a known quantity in terms of media coverage and establishment campaign support, Firearms News sought to learn more about Putsch’s detailed views on the right to keep and bear arms. Unfortunately, a looming deadline meant there was no time for answers to a “gun rights questionnaire” sent to him before the article was posted. (The questionnaire allows candidate to go deeper into unequivocal specifics going beyond the generic --and thus meaningless-- “I believe in the Second Amendment” mantra most politicians give to get votes, even Democrats. Earlier versions of my questionnaire have proven useful in campaigns since 2009, from Nevada, where Senate candidate Sharon Angle proved herself willing to directly answer questions that then-majority leader Harry Reid would not, to Ohio, when attorney general candidate Dave Yost, who dropped out of the governor’s race, did the same.)

Wanting to hear his views in his own words, Firearms News spoke to Putsch and posed a series of questions. Before answering, he wanted to emphasize that, “It is one thing to say nice words,” but that it’s important to research candidates, and look at what they’re truly all about, essentially how they measure up to what they say.

“Yes – shall not be infringed is pretty darn clear,” Putsch replied when asked if he believes the Constitution is the “supreme Law of the Land” and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges birthrights that should these be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government.

He was equally direct when asked what the Founder had in mind for the Second Amendment and if he believes Americans have a right to own, use and carry full-auto weapons of militia utility?

“It’s not for deer hunting,” he replied. “The People would be on equal footing with the military so they would not be in a position to be overthrown. Yes, they should have the freedom to have such arms, and not to be subject to meaningless laws and rules, like ATF has imposed on things like braces and stocks.”

“Yes,” he answered when asked if the right to arms includes the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them openly or concealed without a permit.

“Making anything a ‘gun-free zone’ does nothing but make law-abiding people sitting targets”, Putsch responded when asked if schools should limit arms to law enforcement or have programs to train teachers, administrators, and staff to be first responders. He then emphasized how school shootings, “...are overly utilized by the left for fearmongering,” and that the numbers of student victims are dwarfed by many other causes of death, not to minimize tragedy, but because it shouldn’t be exploited.

“What types of ‘sensitive areas’ prohibiting firearms would make sense to you?” I asked, giving examples like courtrooms or military installations. Putsch replied that if it’s a government area where “citizens are going to be forcibly disarmed, the authorities should have a legal obligation to protect them.”

When asked if he owns firearms and would he be willing to share what types, he responded with an enthusiastic, “Yes, I do.”

“Some were bought, others were passed down,” Putsch elaborated. “Starting as a young man I had a German RWS air rifle.”

He and his father (he has an M1Garand along with his grandfather’s flag from World War II’s Battle of Okinawa) collected historical guns and he builds AR-platform firearms with his “mil friends.”  Putsch’s diverse collection includes a flintlock, black powder muzzle loaders, a Sharps long scope buffalo rifle, an Uberti lever action, a single action Army revolver, a Colt 1911, a WWI Luger, shotguns, a Beretta 92, Glocks, a 5.56 AR, and he’s looking into adding an HK SP5 (semi-auto pistol version of the MP5 submachine gun). He posts photos that include many of his firearms on X.com (@CaseyPutsch).

“Like cars, guns allow us to remember who we are where we came from, what we and our family members have gone through and fought for,” he added.  “For personal protection or protection of America, I stand firmly with the Second Amendment.”

“As governor, what specific Ohio gun laws will you work with the legislature to get passed or repealed?” I asked next.

“In general, no limit on citizens from being able to protect themselves or bs laws, with  the overarching rule of thumb being Americans can exercise the right as intended,”  Putsch responded. “Using small ways to create precedent, we can get to point where we don’t have to worry about that and can enjoy our rights as Americans and remind the government who’s really in charge.”

“Do you believe that mass immigration of foreign nationals with a ‘pathway to citizenship’ represents a threat or a boon to the Second Amendment?” I asked as the last question, noting Vivek Ramaswamy has disparaged the idea of “Heritage Americans” and called for more foreign worker visas. “Why?”

“It’s certainly a threat if the billionaire class forces Americans to accept a lower standard of life,” he replied. “And yes, of course, if slightly less direct, foreigners have not shared our heritage and our fights. A big factor behind the fall of Rome was its dependence on non-citizen troops.”

If you have any thoughts or comments on this article, we’d love to hear them. Email us at FirearmsNews@Outdoorsg.com.

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