Ginther’s gun goals could be shot down by one Ohio House bill

Columbus’ “common sense” gun reform plan introduced by Mayor Ginther, City Attorney Zach Klein, and City Council President Shannon G. Hardin last month could go up in smoke because of a wide-ranging gun bill.

Under Ohio House Bill 228, anyone affected by a local gun ordinance would have the option to challenge it in court, or as the Record-Courier puts it, would make any local firearm legislation that interferes with the right to bear arms pre-empted by state law.

For example, one proposed common sense gun reform is to ban guns from those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence. But, since state law has no such prohibition, a domestic violence criminal could challenge their right to gun ownership in court.

HB 228 also focuses heavily on the “stand your ground” provision which would eliminate a persons responsibility to retreat before using lethal force and shift the burden of proof in a self-defense claim to the prosecutor.

The Record-Courier reports Gov. John Kasich has sworn to never sign a “stand your ground” bill.

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