CONTROVERSIAL GUN RIGHTS BILL PASSES, GOES TO DEWINE
Senate Bill 175would remove requirement to retreat before using force.
A controversial “stand your ground” gun rights bill is heading to Gov. Mike DeWine, a Greene County Republican who promised to push through gun reforms after the mass shooting in Dayton’s Oregon District.
The OhioHouse voted 51-31 late Thursday in favor of the measure. TheOhio Senate voted 18-11onFriday. Four Republicans, including state Sen. Peggy Lehner of Kettering, joined Democrats voting against the bill.
Under current law, Ohioans have a “duty to retreat” fromdanger in public places before using deadly force in defense of themselves or others. Senate Bill 175 would remove that duty.
“StandYourGround”isopposed by many county prosecutors and police chiefs, including Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl, who said itwould make communities less safe and encourage armed vigilantism.
But state Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, said it’s a simple change that will clarify self-defense law and he disputed the “stand your ground” label.
Sending the bill toDeWine puts the governor in a difficult position. DeWine has been non-committal on whether he’d sign or veto it. Overriding a veto requires 20 votes in the Senate and 60 in the House.
In the months after the Dayton mass shooting, DeWine proposed a package of gun lawchanges that included a voluntary background check system for private party sales, an expansion of 72-hour hospital holds to include people suffering from chronic alco
holism or substance abuse disorder, and stiffer penalties for repeat offenderswho use firearms. But that package failed to gain traction in the GOP-controlled General Assembly.
“StandYourGround”opponents warned that it could disproportionately impact people of color and they noted it goes against what Dayton residents pleaded for after the mass shooting.
Dion Green, whose father DerrickFudgewasmurdered in the Dayton shooting, testified against the bill. “More will die if this bill passes,” Green told lawmakers this week.
Lawmakers thisweek put the final toucheson a $2.1 billion, two-year capital spendingplan that includesmoney for schools, prisons, parks and community projects. TheHouse voted77-7andthe Senate voted 29-0 in favor of the capital budget bill. reciprocity ofCCWpermits with other states. The newlawalso removes semiautomaticweapons that fire 31 or more cartridges without re-loading from the list of highly regulated dangerous ordnances.
■ 2016: Kasich signs into lawameasure to allowCCWpermitholders to carry weapons on college campuses, in day care centers, inside public areas of airports and elsewhere. The newlawalso blocks businesses or property owners frombarring CCWpermitholders from keeping their firearms in their vehicles.
■ 2018: Following the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, Kasich changes his position on gun control and backs measures to enhance background checks, prohibit bump stocks, red flag laws and more.
■ 2018: Lawmakers approve a change to self-defense lawto shift the burden of proof to the prosecution, instead of the accused. It aligned Ohio lawwith laws in 49 other states.
■ 2019: Following a mass shooting in Dayton, Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, advocates a 17-point plan for gun restrictions and increasedmental health services.