Ohio Moms Demand Action, Everytown Respond After Ohio House Passes Dangerous Bill That Would Roll Back State Gun Laws

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today responded after the Ohio House of Representatives passed HB 228, dangerous legislation that would make make Ohio a so-called “Stand Your Ground” state, among other sweeping rollbacks of Ohio public safety laws.

“Ohio’s public safety laws are in place for good reason,” said Sarah Mouncey, volunteer leader with the Ohio chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “At a time when the consensus is growing that we need to do more to prevent gun violence, this would move Ohio in the exact opposite direction. We’ll be urging our senators to listen to Ohio law enforcement and reject this extreme and dangerous proposal.”

The Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association all oppose HB 228, and Gov. Kasich has said he would veto any “Stand Your Ground” legislation. HB 228 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.
• Encourage people to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public without a permit or firearm safety training by removing the threat of serious punishment.
• Allow out-of-state special interest groups to sue Ohio cities and towns for attempting to enact or enforce local solutions to gun violence.

More information about HB 228, including research about the impact Stand Your Ground has had in other states, is available here.