Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be accepting proponent testimony on important self-defense legislation. Senate Bill 180, sponsored by state Senators Joe Uecker (R-14) and Jay Hottinger (R-31), would expand circumstances under which a person has no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense. Further, this bill would shift the burden of proof to the state, so the state would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a person charged with an offense that involved the use of force against another, did not use that force in self-defense. Senate Bill 180 would also reduce certain concealed handgun offenses to minor misdemeanors and eliminate the mandatory posting of signs that warn against the conveyance of a deadly weapon onto specified premises.
It is unreasonable that victims of crime should have to worry about being arrested or prosecuted if they are required to use force to defend themselves or their family. Any victim should be able to presume that an unlawful attacker is there for the purpose of doing harm.
If you would like to attend the hearing, details are below. If you would like to email committee members, details may be found here.
Tuesday, November 14th, 2017
10:00AM in North Hearing Room
1 Capitol Square
Columbus, OH 43215