stand your ground
Ohio’s march toward vigilante ‘justice’
The Ohio General Assembly has passed, Gov. Mike DeWine has signed three recently passed gun bills that endanger Ohioans and favor vigilantes. There was SB 175, known as “stand your ground” or shoot whoever makes you nervous. Ohio common law had been that self-defense with deadly force was available as a defense only if the […]
As gun laws loosen, gun deaths increase
Many states have been loosening their gun laws in recent years. This year Ohio allowed people to carry handguns without a permit — a move that enjoys the support of just 20% of Americans, the Pew Research Center reports. When Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215 last month, he joined 23 other states, almost […]
Amid bloody Spring, House Dems renew gun laws push
Ohio House Democrats renewed efforts Monday to pass what they described as common-sense gun laws, characterizing Republicans as in the pocket of the gun lobby and deaf to public hunger for solutions. In a press conference, they talked up several proposals to curb gun violence amid a bloody start to 2021. At least 218 Ohioans […]
Legislators consider guns, abortion, HB 6 repeal and health department powers in last scheduled sessions
Update: At 10:45 a.m. Thursday, the Senate President announced the body could convene as needed, meaning Thursday might not be the last day of the legislative session. More guns. Fewer abortions. Delaying a nuclear bailout repeal and weakening the health department. With one official legislative day remaining in Ohio’s 133rd General Assembly, Ohio lawmakers have […]
Senate Committee passes firearm dealer protection, resolution against police defunding
A bill sponsored by Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof to bar public officials from closing down licensed firearm dealers passed through committee on Tuesday, but not without questions on the priorities of the legislature. The bill, which bans elected officials from closing down federally-licensed firearm dealers as part of an emergency such as a health […]
House considers ‘stand your ground’ bill; critics call it a racist legal concept
Legalized lynching. Citizens’ license to kill. Codification of black men’s deaths. These were just a few of the characterizations people offered to the Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee of a “stand your ground” proposal that lawmakers reviewed Tuesday. Starting in the afternoon and continuing well into the evening, a steady stream of citizens implored lawmakers […]
Ohio House Dem Leader: ‘Willful ignorance’ only reason for lack of action on racism
The Ohio House Minority Leader says it is up to white people to address the societies and legislation that they built to be discriminatory. On day five of protests surrounding the Ohio Statehouse, Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes said the state’s government needs to “lead the nation” in passing a resolution declaring racism a public […]
On 8th anniversary of Trayvon Martin shooting, committee fields ‘stand your ground’ support
Eight years to the day after George Zimmerman shot and killed an unarmed black teenager and thrust the phrase into the public lexicon, an Ohio statehouse committee soldiered forward with its review of “stand your ground” legislation. The House Criminal Justice committee continued its consideration Wednesday of the bill, which would remove Ohioans’ “duty to […]
How an Ohio representative’s business could profit off the ‘stand your ground’ bill he co-sponsors
An Ohio lawmaker is co-sponsoring legislation that experts say could benefit his private business, which sells liability insurance and other protections for gun owners in case they shoot someone in self-defense. Rep. George Lang, R-West Chester Twp., runs Second Call Defense, along with two top executives of the Buckeye Firearms Association, the state’s most influential […]
Opponents of Duty to Retreat Act: Change in law would allow ‘open season’
An effort to remove a duty to retreat from Ohio self-defense legislation came up against criticism from students, parents and elected officials in a hearing on the proposal. Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Conwell shared his experience walking in the University Circle in his council ward, where he said a white woman called police because she […]
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 […]
How gerrymandering brings about extreme Ohio laws that don’t reflect majority opinion
Recent gun and abortion bills the latest examples For decades, Ohio has been the quintessential battleground state. But in the last 10 years, Ohio has steadily taken a turn to the right — but not because its voters have suddenly become more conservative. Sure, Republicans enjoy supermajority control of both state legislative chambers and hold […]