DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF) -- The long-stalled issue of gun regulation was discussed at a hearing conducted by the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday.

Republican Senator Matt Dolan believes Senate Bill 357 could bring safety measures to gun laws. Dion Green, who lost his father in the Oregon District Mass Shooting in 2019, is a supporter of the bill.

“It’s really just adding an extra layer of background checks, so certain things won’t slip through the cracks,” said Green.

The bill proposes for limits on private firearm sales, in addition to improved background checks and million-dollar funding for mental health programs.

A red-flag provision that would have allowed police officers to seize a firearm from a person with a severe mental illness was originally included in the law, but was later removed.

Even though experts believe this bill is unlikely to pass the house, Marc Clauson, a professor of history and law at Cedarville University, considers it to be constitutional.

“You could argue it’s not the best bill we can have, but I think it is constitutional,” said Clauson. “What this does, is it adds another element called risk assessment, and the risk assessment is supposed to determine whether you have the potential or reality of some type of mental illness.”

Rob Sexton, the Buckeye Firearm Association Legislative Affairs Director, disagrees with the bill's provisions. He believes that just because someone breaks the law, doesn't mean other law-abiding citizens should suffer the same consequences.

“The idea that we would want to keep firearms out of the hands of someone who is suicidal, or someone who has intent to harm other people, is a very laudable goal, but the question is how do you get there,” said Sexton.

The next committee hearing is scheduled for next week.