| Ohio Representative Introducing New Gun Regulation Law? |
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| Ohio Legislation |
| Written by Daniel White |
| Friday, 28 July 2006 03:41 |
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Updated Information! Continue reading for a statement from Representative Uecker. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, state Representative Joseph Uecker(R), a co-sponsor of HB347, is planning to introduce legislation to allow townships to regulate firearms according to a statement quoted in the paper. However, Rep. Uecker disputes he made such a statement. "I am a firearms advocate," Uecker said. But, "I think it's common sense to believe you don't shoot in your backyard when you've got neighbors all around your house." The issue stems from township residents in Miami Township complaining about hearing gunfire. One such resident, Betsy Behne, said, "it is very, very loud, and that's unnerving." She started a campaign of calling police and township officials in an attempt to get her new neighbors to stop target practicing on their own property only to learn that townships in Ohio cannot enact laws restricting firearms. Clermont County Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg had several options for her, she could file a nuisance lawsuit, try to work it out with her neighbors, or she could move. It was then that Uecker got involved. The Enquirer claims he has plans to hold hearings with concerned citizens and pro-gun groups before introducing the new bill, which could come as early as next year. Uecker told OFCC that this is a "glaring error," and that what he actually said is that if legislation was to be introduced, it couldn't be done until next year. Perhaps instead, the busybodies who are "unnerved" by the sound of target practice should understand that big city Liberalism doesn't work and isn't supported in the small town lifestyle. Just because a few people are bothered by the sound of gunfire, doesn't mean every else should lose the right to safely target practice on their own property. While we would have no problem with anyone introducing legislation that enacts laws that mandate the safe handling and shooting of firearms statewide, anything that would prohibit safe shooting in a township will be opposed. As a legislator who voted to pass HB347, Rep. Uecker voted to support the idea of statewide preemption of local firearms laws. Anyone introducing legislation that would give townships the authority to prohibit firearms in any fashion (which they can not do today) would be taking ten steps backwards to the progress we're trying to make with HB347. OFCC is opposed to efforts that would allow Ohio's 1300+ townships to enact a patchwork quilt of inconsistent local gun laws, a phenomenon we're trying to eliminate with Ohio House Bill 347. In response to the Enquirer story, Representative Uecker released the following statement to OFCC:
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