By Ken Hanson, Esq.

This November, Buckeyes will head to the poll to elect a new Attorney General. This election is being held without the customary year-long primary campaigns, due to the nature and timing of the resignation of Marc Dann. As a result, a small group of men and women hold the future of your gun rights in their hands. Chances are very good that you do not know any of these men and women, and you certainly did not vote for them.

One day after the Ohio House passed amended SB184 with a strong bipartisan majority, the Ohio Senate has concurred to the improvements with an equally strong and bi-partisan 25-7 vote. A video archive of the floor debate is available here.
(Click here to see how they voted.)

The bill's sponsor, State Senator Steve Buehrer (R-Delta), noted that "while SB184 has undergone several changes over the last few months, the bill that was sent to the Governor today meets the goal of allowing people to feel safe in their homes and communities. I would like to thank all those who worked on the bill, and I urge the Governor’s support for this very important measure."

“We thank Senator Buehrer for his hard work in leading the effort to reform and modernize Ohio’s firearm and use of force laws,” said Jim Irvine, Chair of the Buckeye Firearms Association. “Ohio’s Castle Doctrine is about helping crime victims, by shifting the focus of our police and prosecutors back on the criminal where it belongs. Law-abiding Ohioans no longer have to fear getting trapped up in the legal system for having lawfully defended themselves in their home."

The bill now awaits a signature from Governor Ted Strickland (D).

"I am proud to support this important legislation that protects gun owners throughout the state of Ohio," Strickland stated. "I look forward to signing these common sense protections into law."