By Linda Walker

On Wednesday, April 9, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Criminal Justice held a 5th hearing for Senate Bill 184, the Castle Doctrine bill.

Amendments to the bill were adopted via a Substitute Bill, which can be downloaded via a link below.

Sub SB184 offers a revised and more descript language to Castle Doctrine compared to the language originally introduced. The bill spells out that the criminal must be engaged in a felony act against a victim at the time a victim defends themselves. Examples included rape, murder, kidnapping and felonious assault, among a few other violent acts.

The bill will also extend the "no duty to retreat" language to the victim's vehicle.

Castle Doctrine will shift the burden of proof to the prosecutor instead of the victim in proving whether it was clearly an act of self defense.

(Columbus, Ohio) - You are invited to join the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance at the 2008 Candidates Reception on April 15.

The event provides an opportunity for the Ohio sportsmen’s community to meet with state and federal legislative candidates, rub elbows and voice their concerns.

The reception will be April 15 at the Athletic Club of Columbus from 5:30 to 7:30 PM and all are welcome to attend. The Athletic Club is located at 136 E. Broad St. in downtown Columbus.

Legislative candidates will use the informal atmosphere as an opportunity meet the opinion leaders from Ohio’s many prominent statewide sportsmen’s organizations, while listening to the opinions and fielding questions of their sportsman constituents.

The event is being sponsored and co-hosted by the Ohio Republican Party and the Ohio Democratic Party. Leaders from both parties will address those in attendance, and are encouraging their candidates to make the event a priority.

Senate Bill 184, Ohio's Castle Doctrine bill, has been added to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Criminal Justice's agenda for Wednesday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m. in the Senate Building's North Hearing Room.

This will be the sixth hearing of the bill by this committee.

The committee chairman has indicated that the committee may adopt amendments before a possible vote.

For more information on Ohio's Castle Doctrine legislation, see: Buckeye Firearms Association Endorses HB264/SB184; Castle Doctrine Legislation.

Thank you for responding to our call to use our Write to Legislators website feature to contact your legislators. Please encourage your friends and family to do the same.