Solon Politician Blasts Stand Your Ground Legislation

SOLON, OH — Solon-based state Rep. Phil Robinson condemned Gov. Mike DeWine and the General Assembly for passing "Stand Your Ground" legislation in Ohio.

During the first full week of January, DeWine signed Senate Bill 175 into law. The legislation allows Ohioans to shoot someone if they are in fear of harm and deadly force is necessary. Anyone firing their weapon at a person must be at their residence or defending themselves or someone else from harm, according to the legislation.

The amended Senate Bill 175 effectively eliminates the requirement for anyone to retreat from a dangerous situation before using a gun.

Robinson called the legislation a "loophole for murder."

"This law will greatly decrease public safety in Ohio and disproportionately impact the lives of Black Ohioans and other people of color as victims of gun violence, with their killers now having a way to escape prosecution,” Robinson said in a statement.

As the bill moved through the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House, Robinson advocated for the bill's defeat. When the legislation went to DeWine for his signature, Robinson asked the governor to veto the bill.

Buoyed by DeWine's months-long crusade against gun violence in Ohio, Robinson and other Democrats believed Senate Bill 175 would be vetoed. They were wrong.

"While campaigning for Governor, I expressed my support for removing the ambiguity in Ohio's self-defense law, and Senate Bill 175 accomplishes this goal. That is why I have signed this bill today," DeWine said in a statement

The governor did chastise lawmakers for not picking-up any of his gun control legislation, but that did not deter him from signing SB 175. His about face did not go unnoticed.

“One of the worst parts of this bad public policy is that Gov. DeWine broke his promise to not sign into law any pro-gun violence related measures until his gun safety reform package in SB 221 was passed by the legislature," Robinson said. "I find it concerning Gov. DeWine is giving in to the most extreme elements of his party and hope it is not a sign of how he will govern over the next two years.”