Bill Advanced Today Would Upend Traditional Self-Defense Law in Ohio and Allow a Person to Shoot to Kill in Public, Even When There is a Clear and Safe Alternative
HB 228 Would Also Effectively Allow People to Carry Hidden, Loaded Handguns in Public Without a Permit or Firearm Safety Training
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after a committee in the Ohio House of Representatives voted 7-3 to advance House Bill 228, a dangerous gun bill that would make Ohio a so-called “Stand Your Ground” state. Volunteers from the Ohio chapter of Moms Demand Action packed the hearing room in the Ohio Statehouse as the committee heard testimony today.
States that enact Stand Your Ground laws see increases in homicide rates, and Stand Your Ground laws have a disproportionate effect on communities of color. Additionally, there is no evidence that Stand Your Ground laws deter crime.
House Bill 228 would also effectively allow people to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public in Ohio without a permit or safety training. While Ohio is currently among the vast majority of states that require a person to get a permit before carrying a concealed gun in public, HB 228 would effectively eliminate this requirement.
More information about this legislation is available here.
STATEMENT FROM SARAH MOUNCEY, VOLUNTEER WITH THE OHIO CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Since the Parkland tragedy, states from Florida to Kansas have passed strong gun laws, and Ohioans from across the state have asked our leaders to strengthen our laws, too. Amid the growing calls for common sense gun laws, the last thing lawmakers should be doing is repealing sensible public safety laws currently on the books. This dangerous attempt to take us backward would leave us all less safe, and our lawmakers should prevent it from moving any further.”
