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Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘When will enough be enough?' Ohio House Democrats introduce common sense gun legislation
Stock photo of guns. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos for New Jersey Monitor/States Newsroom.) Ohio House Democrats say they are trying to enact common sense gun laws, but face an uphill battle in the Republican supermajority-controlled Ohio Statehouse. Democratic lawmakers have introduced a series of gun-related bills so far this General Assembly that have seen little, if any movement. The one bill that has had a hearing so far is a bipartisan bill. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'Republicans are focused on passing laws that they hope will distract you from their failures, while at the same time trying to divide us on common sense issues like gun reform,' Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, said Tuesday during a press conference. 'Ohio Democrats will not stand idly by while Republicans in power refuse to do something about gun violence.' Ohio had 571 gun-related deaths and over 1,700 incidents of gun violence in 2024, said state Rep. Darnell T. Brewer, D-Cleveland. Ohio ranks 21st in the nation for gun violence and gun deaths rose 42% in Ohio from 2013 to 2022, said state Rep. Cecil Thomas, D-Cincinnati. More than 1,000 Ohioans aged 19 and younger died as a result of gun violence in the last decade, according to the Children's Defense Fund. 'When will enough be enough?' Thomas asked. 'How many children have to die before you act? How many women have to be shot by their partners? How many funerals will it take before this legislation does its job? How many other officers have to be shot before we do something?' Gun-related bills introduced so far by Democratic lawmakers include — House Bill 45 — Prohibit certain firearm transfers without a background check was introduced by Thomas and state Rep. Rachel Baker, D-Cincinnati, in February, but has had no committee hearings in the House Public Safety Committee. House Bill 46 — Enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act was introduced by Thomas and state Rep. Michele Grim, D-Toledo, in February, but it has had no hearings so far in the House Public Safety Committee. House Bill 120 — Exempt from sales and use tax sales of firearm safety devices was introduced by Brewer and state Rep. Jennifer Gross, R-West Chester, in February and has had sponsor testimony in the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee. House Bill 235, Authorize tax credit for handgun training and firearms storage was introduced by Brewer and state Rep. Meredith R. Lawson-Rowe, D-Reynoldsburg, in April, but it has had no hearings so far in the House Ways and Means Committee. Brewer said he is introducing the community safety solution agenda which includes: A resolution to encourage responsible gun ownership by promoting safe storage practices to prevent children from accessing guns. A resolution on safe firearm storage education. The safe play act that would create a grant program through the state's unclaimed funds to help communities build safe playgrounds. Close the boyfriend loophole act which prevents individuals convicted of dating violence or under protection order from possessing firearms. An act that would create comprehensive grants for cities that declare gun violence a public health crisis. 'We do not seek to outlaw guns, rather, we want to offer common sense regulations and publicize safe responsible ownership of guns,' Lawson-Rowe said. This summer will mark six years since a mass shooting in Dayton killed nine people and more pro-gun laws have since taken effect in the state. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law in 2022 that got rid of all training, background check and permitting requirements to carry a concealed weapon. A 2021 law no longer requires people to retreat before they can justifiably hurt or kill someone with a gun in self-defense. 'What we need now is the political will, something that unfortunately continues to be absent from the Republican-controlled legislature,' said state Rep. Michele Grim, D-Toledo. Russo said she wouldn't be surprised if Ohioans try to pass a ballot initiative addressing gun violence and common sense reforms. 'I'm not aware of current efforts to do that, but you know, given how out of line this legislature is the public on this issue, and the lack of action on this issue, it wouldn't be surprising to see that perhaps in the next couple of years,' she said. Ohioans did that in 2023 by voting to enshrine abortion and reproductive rights in the state's constitution. 'Gun violence has no place in our state and in our communities,' Russo said. 'People deserve better. Our children deserve better.' State Rep. Karen Brownlee, D-Symmes Twp., shared stories of gun violence she heard from children when she worked as a mental health therapist. 'A sibling group aged six to 13 running home from the bus stop to avoid a shooting in the middle of their residential neighborhood,' she said. 'A six-year-old accidentally shooting his three-year-old brother to death with a gun left on the coffee table.' These kids would ask her how to stay safe around guns. 'Sadly, the conversations ended with me explaining that Ohio laws protect guns more than they protect people,' Brownlee said. '… We are fighting against a powerful gun lobby which is more interested in sales than citizens.' A new study from George Washington University showed more than 7,000 children died from firearm related injuries since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to set their own gun laws. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to create criminal offense for harassing first responders introduced
Two local lawmakers introduced a bill that would make harassing first responders a criminal offense in Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] State Representatives Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township) introduced House Bill 20. TRENDING STORIES: 2 winning Powerball tickets sold in Ohio; $551M jackpot won 1 seriously injured in crash involving 14-year-old driver Injuries reported after vehicle crashes into ditch in Dayton Both representatives said the bill was created to make sure first responders can safely and efficiently complete their work during emergencies The legislation would set a 14-foot perimeter around first responders on the scene of an emergency, according to the bill analysis. Those who approach or remain in the perimeter after a warning could be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor offense. The bill defines harassment as any behavior directed at a first responder that could cause 'substantial emotional distress' or interfere with their 'ability to lawfully perform a legal duty.' 'As a former Sheriff, I understand the high stress situations our first responders can come across, and to alleviate any of those stressors allows for first responders to better address any given situation,' Plummer said. 'This bill simply allows first responders to focus on their duties and protect our community.' The bill also looks to add probation officers to the definition of emergency service responder in Ohio, according to the analysis. 'This is common sense legislation to allow our first responders the space to do their jobs,' Hall said. 'Our first responders' – police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and others – ability to safely and efficiently carry out their duties is essential to the functioning of our society.' The bill remains in the House Public Safety Committee for hearings and could be subject to changes. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers introduce bill to protect first responders
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Ohio legislators want to make harassing first responders a crime. House Bill 20 was introduced to the Ohio House of Representatives earlier this year, seeking to assure first responders can safely and effectively do their jobs in stressful situations. Investigation into Zaden McKnight disappearance continues The bill aims to 'prohibit a person from knowingly harassing or impeding an emergency service responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty,' as well as adding probation officers to the list of first responders. If HB-20 goes through, individuals accused of harassing first responders could face a first-degree misdemeanor. The bill is currently in the House Public Safety Committee. It was introduced by Rep. Thomas Hall and Rep. Phil Plummer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio bill would create offense for harassing first responders
Mar. 25—A former sheriff and a volunteer firefighter — both from this area — serving in the Ohio House want to create a new criminal offense in Ohio law that would outlaw harassing emergency service responders. How it would work As proposed, House Bill 20, currently under consideration from the House Public Safety Committee, would essentially set a 14-foot perimeter around police, firefighters and EMS responders at the scene. From there, the bill prohibits a person "from knowingly harassing an emergency service responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty," according to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Commission. Harassing, in this instance, means any behavior that can cause substantial emotional distress to the responder or interferes with their ability to lawfully perform a legal duty. The offense would carry a charge of a first degree misdemeanor. Bystanders could only be charged after being warned and continuing to encroach on the 14-foot perimeter the law would create. Sponsors State Rep. Thomas Hall, R-Madison Twp., serves as a volunteer firefighter in his Butler County district. He stressed the need for first responders to have the space to assess situations, make decisions and provide care. "Any factor, or in this case, person, that disrupts that process can ultimately be the difference between someone living or dying," Hall said Tuesday while delivering sponsor testimony on the bill. He, alongside longtime former Montgomery County Sheriff Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Butler Twp., told the committee that their proposal is not meant to dissuade bystanders from recording incidents, nor is it meant to dissuade bystanders from interfering when first responders are breaking the law. "We're just asking for a 14-foot ring where we can keep people back. YouTubers drive a lot of this, (as do) nosy citizens," said Plummer, who noted that the law would also come into play during protests. Pushback Democratic members of House Public Safety Committee raised concerns that the law could unevenly applied, stressed that its first-degree misdemeanor charge is too harsh, and questioned whether a new offense was necessary given that Ohio already has second-degree misdemeanor charge for citizens who complete "any act that hampers or impedes a public official in the performance of the public official's lawful duties." Plummer argued the bill's aim is to create an awareness of what he'd call best practices for law enforcement, similar to how the state's laws on pulling over for emergency response vehicles shifted public behavior. "Now we're going to give the message to the public to just give the first responders a 14-foot buffer," Plummer said. "It's more of an educational piece." H.B. 20 is slated for more hearings and is subject to committee changes. ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below.
