Dayton mayor urges against expansion of “stand your ground” law

DAYTON — As the Ohio Senate is expected to vote on Ohio Senate Bill 383 this week, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley hosted a press conference urging lawmakers to vote against it.

Senate Bill 383, otherwise known as a “stand your ground” bill, proposes to extend the “stand your ground” concepts. Instead of just being able to use force, including deadly force, in self-defense in someone’s home or car, the bill would allow a person to take such action in any public place.

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As a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Mayor Whaley was joined by today by Dayton Chief of Police Richard Biehl, as well as members from Everytown for Gun Safety, Ohio Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action at a press conference urging Gov. DeWine to veto the bill if it is passed by the state Senate.

Whaley believes the “stand your ground” laws are too broad and that lawmakers are missing the mandate they should be focused on when it comes to gun debates.

“We need the Ohio legislature to pay attention to what the vast majority of Ohioans say, that we want common sense gun legislation,” said Whaley. “Not extreme laws, not stand your ground.”