DeWine stands his ground
STRONG Ohio is sensible, moderate, and respectful of Second Amendment rights, and will make Ohio safer.
The Editorial Board
Wed, 04 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT
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Gov. Mike DeWine offered an olive branch. Two months after his call for a “red-flag” law in Ohio fell on deaf ears in the General Assembly, Mr. Dewine offered a watered-down version of his sensible gun-reform proposals.
In October, the governor dropped his proposals for the “red-flag” provision that would allow authorities to take guns away from those deemed too dangerous to have them. He also dropped his plan to mandate background checks for nearly all gun sales.
His October proposal, which Mr. DeWine calls STRONG Ohio, expands a “pink-slip” law that would allow a probate court judge to order guns removed from someone who has mental health or drug or alcohol addiction problems. That process could be initiated by a concerned family member, the police, or others, and the affected individual would receive due process by appearing before the judge before a decision is rendered. It also would ensure assigning medical help for the individual.
The pending legislation also includes a background-check proposal that is easier for gun sellers as it would allow buyers to go to local law enforcement agencies for background checks and get certificates saying they can own a gun, which then can be shown to a seller at a gun show, for example.
These changes, the governor candidly said, were meant to create bills that he could actually get passed.
Instead of embracing the governor’s proposal or even meeting him halfway, the General Assembly responded with a pair of Stand Your Ground bills to make it harder to hold shooters responsible when they use lethal force.
The Stand Your Ground bills would eliminate the responsibility for someone with a gun to retreat before using deadly force in a public place. It is similar to a measure from last year, which all but one Republican in the state House supported. After a threatened veto from then-Gov. John Kasich, however, the controversial language was removed from the bill.
This new development was a disappointing and irresponsible way to respond to the governor’s earnest attempts to make Ohio safer, particularly considering Republicans control the state House, the state Senate, and the governor’s mansion.
Now Mr. DeWine is urging lawmakers to set aside their Stand Your Ground proposals, which he says he will back, and first take up his proposed STRONG measure.
“I think we should focus on our STRONG Ohio legislation. We put a lot of work into that. The legislature has already started hearings on that,” the governor says.
The General Assembly should not miss this chance to do the right thing.
The governor’s proposal is not only sensible, moderate, and respectful of Second Amendment rights, it not only will make Ohio safer, but it is favored by more than 90 percent of Ohioans.
Lawmakers should drop the games and get to work on Mr. DeWine’s earnest attempt to solve a problem Ohioans have urged elected leaders to solve.