STRICKLAND: TIME TO BAN LOCAL GUN ORDINANCES

I guess it's time to face up to it: My candidate for governor just has a problem with the idea of local self-government.

Hard on the heels of his floor vote to get rid of local cable franchising, Ted Strickland put out this campaign press release today:

Strickland Statement on Ohio Senate's Failure to Act on Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Ohio's Gun Owners

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio gubernatorial candidate Congressman Ted Strickland today offered the following statement on the Ohio Senate’s failure to act on HB 347, legislation to strengthen protections for Ohio’s gun owners, before retiring for summer recess.

“Ohio’s GOP leadership has demonstrated that they are unwilling to act on important legislation to strengthen protections for Ohio’s gun owners.

The improvements needed to Ohio’s current concealed carry law outlined in HB 347 have bipartisan support from both Democratic and Republican legislators in the Ohio House of Representatives. But the Republican-controlled senate has stalled this very important bill indefinitely.

As governor, I would support passage of this bill in its entirety and would sign HB 347 into law the moment it hit my desk. I urge the legislature to stop the delay and pass this legislation as soon as possible.”

The press release neglects to say that "this very important bill", which Strickland supports "in its entirety", is explicitly designed to eliminate any form of municipal firearms legislation in Ohio. This includes the assault weapons bans now on the books in Cleveland, Toledo and Columbus. The League of Women Voters, which opposes HB 347, summarizes its impact thusly:

If enacted, HB 347 would:
• Evade the Home-Rule provision of the Ohio Constitution.
• Take away authority from cities. It would prevent local communities from deciding what is in the best interests of their citizens, families and children related to firearms.
• It would serve as a model to eliminate “Home Rule” over other areas of local government.

In addition to preempting local firearms ordinances, this bill would:

1) limit journalist access to information regarding persons who have a concealed weapons license.
2) provide a “self-defense” affirmative defense for discharging a firearm while in or on a vessel or motor vehicle.
3) remove the plain sight provision in vehicles and allow guns to be concealed.
4) define a loaded gun as one that has a bullet in the gun (ammunition carried separately would not constitute being loaded).

Meanwhile, there's no sign from the Strickland campaign of that "urban agenda" they keep promising.

Unless this is it.