House Dems Push for Commonsense Gun Safety as GOP Passes
So-called Stand Your Ground Bill
Bill comes as unprecedented gun violence grips nation,
thousands killed in 2018 alone
Ohio House Democratic state lawmakers today voted against
House Bill (HB) 228, the so-called Stand Your Ground bill, a
Republican-sponsored effort to loosen gun safety standards
by reducing firearm offenses, making it harder to prosecute
gun violence cases and preempting local authority to enact
commonsense safety protections for Ohio families.
“This free pass on gun violence makes us all less safe,”
said House Democratic Leader Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton).
“Instead of listening to the thousands of students, parents
and families who’ve spoken out and marched for commonsense
gun safety measures, we’re turning our backs on them with
this divisive, tone-deaf bill that goes dangerously beyond
our reasonable self-defense laws to make Ohio a ‘shoot
first’ state.”
HB 228 would reverse Ohio’s standard of proof in gun
violence cases, requiring the state to prove that a
defendant was not using self-defense. In addition, the bill
would erode home-rule authority by preempting local control
over gun safety regulations. Finally, HB 228 reduces firearm
offenses to minor misdemeanors and eliminates certain
requirements for those driving with a concealed weapon.
“At a time where our country is plagued by gun violence and
shootings of unarmed African Americans, passing Stand Your
Ground legislation is complete disregard for the safety of
all Ohioans. Removing the duty to retreat provision
validates race-based fear as a defense for using deadly
force,” said House Minority Whip Emilia Sykes (D-Akron).
“Once again, the Republican majority is putting the special
interests of their financial backers first instead of
prioritizing the issues that matter to Ohio’s families.”
The bill comes amid unprecedented gun violence across the
country. The recent massacre in Thousand Oaks, CA
marked 307 mass shootings in the then-311 days
in 2018. According to USA Today, four of the largest mass
shootings in the last 50 years have happened this year
alone.
A
sheriff’s deputy was killed in the Thousand Oaks incident,
four
officers were wounded in the recent killing spree at a
Pittsburgh Synagogue
and just this week, a black security guard
was
gunned down by police
as he tried to break up a fight at Chicago-area bar. Despite
these incidents, gun advocates continue to call for more
armed personnel in schools, places of worship and other
public spaces across the country.
Democrats offered a “red flag” gun-safety amendment on the
House floor, the
same
measure introduced by Gov. John Kasich in March 2018,
but it was defeated largely on party lines.
"Thousands of students, moms, families – and even our own
Republican Governor – have asked us to put commonsense gun
safety laws in place. But this isn’t commonsense, it’s
nonsense that will cost us lives and increase gun violence,"
said House Assistant Minority Whip Brigid Kelly
(D-Cincinnati). "We want safe streets and neighborhoods,
but this bill makes us all less safe."
After passing the House, the bill moves to the Senate for
consideration.
Here is what other Democratic members are saying about the
Republican “Kill at Will” bill:
“The big-government, “Shoot First” bill handcuffs local
communities from taking crucial, commonsense steps to reduce
gun violence, making our schools and neighborhoods less
safe,” said Rep. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood). “This
unconstitutional attack on self-government kills the ability
for citizens to come together in their communities to decide
what’s right for them and creates a one-size-fits-all policy
that does more to appease the gun lobby than protect the
lives of Ohioans.”
“Despite opposition from the community, law enforcement and
prosecutors, this Republican-led legislature is
intentionally causing more divisions in Ohio by passing
so-called "Stand Your Ground" legislation,” said Ohio
Legislative Black Caucus President and state Rep. Stephanie
Howse (D-Cleveland). “This type of legislation is
dangerous and leads to justified murder. The leaders of the
Republican Party have shown their disregard for Ohioans and
especially their disregard of black lives. It is a sad day
in Ohio and I pray that one day my colleagues on the other
side of the aisle will truly value the voices and lives of
Ohioans—especially the 18 percent minority population of
Ohio—and not intentionally divide Ohioans based on unfounded
fear.”
“Although I support an individual’s right to carry, I
believe stand your ground expands gun laws to the detriment
of our communities by allowing individuals to shoot first
and ask questions later,” said Rep. Thomas West
(D-Canton). “We already had the Castle Doctrine in Ohio,
which was adequate enough to allow us to protect ourselves
by using force, including deadly force, in our homes or cars
when we needed to. The Castle Doctrine encouraged people in
those situations to avoid violence as much as possible,
which is what we need during times of high stress and fear.
Now our communities across Ohio will be more susceptible to
gun violence and less safe for our families.”
“As thousands of Ohioans—students, parents and families—are
crying out for commonsense gun safety measures, the
entrenched majority continues to push legislation that makes
our communities less safe,” said state Rep. Tavia
Galonski (D-Akron). “I will continue to stand with the
vast majority of Ohioans who oppose these extreme bills that
give a free pass to gun violence.”
“If we want young people to stay in Ohio, we need to make
sure they feel safe. They don’t want to see gun penalties
reduced and an expansion of the ability to use deadly
force,” said Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus). “Our
children want to be able to go to the movies, or a concert,
or out with friends and not be afraid of a potential mass
shooting. They want to live in places and cities that are
trying to pass reasonable gun control measures. This bill
doesn’t make anyone safer.”
“We’re constantly confronted with images of gun violence,
and as public officials, it’s our responsibility to respond
to these threats. Measures have been proposed regarding Red
Flag laws, better background checks, protection from
domestic violence offenders and more—but we are not
considering those measures today,” said state Rep. David
Leland (D-Columbus). Instead, HB 228 guts Ohio’s
concealed carry statute, making all of us less safe by
making crimes such as illegally carrying a concealed handgun
punishable by a slap on the wrist. The bill also implements
‘shoot first ask questions later’ provisions that only
create a greater likelihood of gun violence.
“Finally, the bill keeps cities from passing gun safety
ordinances. Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘The government
closest to the people serves the people best.’ The issues
are not the same in Belpre as they are in Cleveland as they
are in Columbus. Let’s let the governments closest to their
citizens do their duty to protect their communities.
“Finally, the bill keeps cities from passing gun safety
ordinances. Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘The government
closest to the people serves the people best.’ The issues
are not the same in Belpre as they are in Cleveland as they
are in Columbus. Let’s let the governments closest to their
citizens do their duty to protect their communities.”
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