Civil Rights
Gun advocates argue for removal of ‘duty to retreat’ in Ohio
A third hearing on a bill to remove the duty to retreat from a self-defense law was eventful and testy at times on Wednesday in its state Senate committee. Senate Bill 237 would expand the current law, often called the Castle Doctrine, which gives Ohio residents legal standing to use force to defend their home […]
Front license plates still needed in Ohio, police tell lawmakers
Sgt. Richard Forney has a clear reason why he believes Ohio should require two license plates on vehicles: the presence of the front plate helped his department solve the 2017 murder of Reagan Tokes. The Grove City Police Department sergeant was involved in the Tokes murder investigation. Shortly after Tokes’ body was found dead in […]
Bill on rape statutes addresses marital rape loophole
With bipartisan support on the issue of removing the statute of limitations for rape and sexual assault in Ohio, legislators are hoping a bill recently introduced in the state Senate would also remove a loophole involving marital rights. Senate Bill 162 seeks to remove the statute of limitations for rape and sexual assault, which currently […]
Tax credit for donors to anti-abortion pregnancy centers moves toward full Ohio House vote
A bill giving a tax credit to donors for pregnancy centers who promote carrying a pregnancy to term was approved in the state House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday, moving it toward a full House vote. Supporters and critics of House Bill 297 made their cases in the fourth committee hearing on the bill, […]
U.S. House passes legislation to crack down on voter suppression
The U.S. House passed legislation on Friday that would give the federal government broader authority to police voting rights violations across the country. The bill, a top priority for House Democrats, passed by a vote of 228-187, with just one Republican — Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — breaking party ranks to vote for the […]
Bipartisan state senators working to protect domestic violence survivors from gun violence
Just before Thanksgiving this year, Logan resident Natalie Nutter filed for divorce from her husband, Kevin. Weeks prior, Kevin Nutter, also of Logan, pleaded guilty to violating a protection order Natalie had filed against him, which she’d received after he’d made threats against her and her family. In exchange for his guilty plea, Kevin Nutter […]
Dayton shooting, universal background checks brought up in gun reform bill hearing
Supporters of gun reform measures proposed by Gov. Mike DeWine said the legislation would be an important first step in curbing gun violence, but wouldn’t agree that universal background checks were a better solution. The Committee for Government Oversight and Reform met Wednesday to hear proponent testimony as they review Senate Bill 221, which proposes […]
Supporters of ‘Duty to Retreat Act’ testify before Senate committee
A committee of state senators took another look Tuesday at a proposed change to the self-defense law that would eliminate the legal requirement for a person to try to escape an aggressor before fighting back with deadly force. Members of Ohioans for Concealed Carry and Ohio Gun Owners testified in support of Senate Bill 237, […]
Ohio abortion bills by the numbers: Here’s what’s pending
A number of abortion-related bills have passed at least one chamber of the Ohio legislature, or are being reviewed currently within the Statehouse. Legislation that would effectively ban abortions after about six weeks — Senate Bill 23 — passed the Senate in April with 18 votes in favor and 13 opposed. The House approved the […]
U.S. Supreme Court may sidestep a big Second Amendment fight
WASHINGTON — A high-profile gun rights case argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday might be dismissed with little fanfare. The justices heard an hour of arguments in the case that challenges now-defunct New York City gun restrictions. The case has been billed as the biggest gun rights lawsuit in a decade, with the […]