stand your ground

The Republican representative who proposed Ohio's "Stand Your Ground" law says he’s concerned about an armed march planned for the Statehouse this weekend.

"Arm The Populace" founder and lead firearms trainer Douglas Cooper is a gun guy.

Gov. Mike DeWine’s decision to sign the so-called "Stand Your Ground" gun bill into law isn’t sitting well with some city and state leaders who thought they were making headway in their fight against gun violence.

The pandemic slowed down work at the Ohio Statehouse in 2020. But lawmakers did pass a number of bills relating to COVID-19, as well as others that dealt with controversial issues like guns and abortion.

The Ohio General Assembly has wrapped up one of the most tumultuous years in state history, with a pandemic, economic downturn and bribery scandal all playing out at the same time. That left hundreds of bills on the table.

Congressional leaders reached an agreement Sunday night on a $900 billion pandemic rescue package that would deliver needed relief to unemployed Americans and small businesses.

It appears state and local governments will have to wait for more financial help, despite the urging of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and others.

As Ohio lawmakers return for a final week of their lame duck session, Gov. Mike DeWine is hinting he’ll veto a controversial gun bill they sent to him last week. If he does reject the so-called "Stand Your Ground" bill, lawmakers may not be able to do anything about it.

In this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from WOSU, hosts Mike Thompson and Steve Brown discuss the flurry of activity from the Ohio General Assembly’s lame duck session. Dayton Daily News statehouse reporter Laura Bischoff joins the show.

The Ohio House and Ohio Senate wrapped up long voting sessions with the House even going into the early morning hours on Friday. Although lawmakers passed dozens of bills in the process, there are several issues still on the table.

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley wants Ohio lawmakers to shelve a bill that would remove restrictions for using lethal force in self-defense. The so-called "Stand Your Ground" bill, SB383, is moving its way through the legislature with the chance of passing before the month's end.

Republican lawmakers in the Ohio House are weighing a proposal to further expand Ohio's gun laws, including allowing guns in more places and increasing "Stand Your Ground" provisions.

A coalition of eight groups advocating for more gun control launched an online petition campaign to stop the “Stand Your Ground” bill under consideration in the Ohio legislature. 

Gov. Mike DeWine says one of his top priorities in 2020 is to push his package of gun and mental health law changes, which he introduced after the August mass shooting in Dayton. But both Republican and Democratic leaders in the Ohio Senate suggest that might be an uphill battle.