Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Castle-Building in Columbus

From State Senator Steve Stivers:

Thank you very much for your email regarding Senate Bill 184. I appreciate your thoughts and concerns on this issue.

Senate Bill 184, which was introduced on 6-13-07, will provide a criminal defendant who properly establishes the affirmative defense of self-defense or defense of another with immunity from civil liability for damages related to the acts of self-defense or defense of another and to create a rebuttable presumption that a criminal defendant who raises the affirmative defense of self-defense or defense of another acted properly if the defendant or the person defended by the accused was suffering or was about to suffer a felony offense of violence or a forcible trespass upon the home of the defendant or of the person defended by the accused.

I am a co-sponsor of this piece of legislation and believe that providing individuals with immunity from civil liability for damages resulting from self-defense is imperative in protecting the safety of all Ohioans. I look forward to seeing Senate Bill 184 passed and enacted.

Thank you again for your email and please do not hesitate to remain in contact in regards to Senate Bill 184 and/or any other matter before state government.
He joins co-sponsor Timothy J. Grendell in responding.

I have not yet heard back from:

State Senator Bill Seitz (R-8)
sd08@mailr.sen.state.oh.us

State Senator Lance Mason (D-25)
senatormason@maild.sen.state.oh.us

State Senator Steve Austria (R-10)
sd10@mailr.sen.state.oh.us

State Senator Keith Faber (R-12)*
SD12@mailr.sen.state.oh.us

State Senator Teresa Fedor (D-11)
fedoroffice@maild.sen.state.oh.us

State Senator Tim Schaffer (R-31)*
SD31@mailr.sen.state.oh.us

State Senator Shirley Smith (D-21)
senatorsmith@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Faber and Schaffer are co-sponsors, so I'm not worried about them. But the others, particularly republicans Austria and Seitz, need to know their support is expected. I won't be too sympathetic to any weasel-wording about looking into it--by now they've had ample opportunity to make up their minds. Actually, their minds should have been made up on the right of people to protect life and liberty before they ever decided to run for public office.

Democrat Mason did not return a Buckeye Firearm Association survey. BFA also gave a nominal nod to Fedor on the grounds that she "has exhibited some level of support for the Second Amendment, hunting, and self-defense," but supporting freedom to me is something you either do or you don't.

In 2002, BFA noted Mason and Smith "consistently voted anti-CCW."

Ohio gun owners: If you haven't yet sent in your email, what in the world is stopping you? Send one to the above-provided email addresses and let them know you are an Ohio voter expecting them to support your right to defend yourself by supporting SB 184, "Castle Doctrine."

As today is the deadline for submission of revisions, there's no longer even the pretense of a reason for them to delay giving you a direct answer. But they won't feel a need to if they're not directly asked.

1 comment:

Ken said...

Just got a note from Senator Schaffer; you'll probably get one presently, if you don't have it already.