By Andrew Keiper
Kent State-Ohio News Connection

Ohio lawmakers are attempting to expand the protections for people who use deadly force to defend themselves, a move that’s stirring controversy across the state.

A pair of companion bills, colloquially known as a Stand Your Ground law, would shift the burden of proof from the defendant to the state in cases where deadly force is used in self defense. Similar legislation was unsuccessfully proposed in 2013.

Sen. Joe Uecker, R-Miami Township, joined with Sen. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, to introduce Senate Bill 180 in mid-September. The legislation contains four major changes to Ohio law, the largest of which is the shift in the burden of proof from the person who used deadly force to the state.

If passed, prosecutors will be tasked with providing evidence contrary to the defendant’s claim of self-defense.

Uecker acknowledged that the massacre in Las Vegas during the Route 91 country music festival may sway the political energy behind his bill.

“The events of yesterday will certainly play in the public arena,” the senator said. “I think it could influence one way or the other. It’s a sensitive time.”

Although the largest mass killing in modern U.S. history has thrown the country into mourning, Uecker said he’s talked with lawmakers and constituents who voiced support for the controversial measure.

“It corrects this problem in our law, and that’s probably the most important thing,” said Jim Irvine, president of the Buckeye Firearms Association. “It’s a good bill, it’s good public policy, and it fixes multiple problems with Ohio law.”

The legislation also removes the duty for one to retreat before resorting to deadly force, a cause for alarm among some gun control advocates.

“It’s a stand your ground or shoot first kind of law,” Jennifer Thorne, board member of Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, said. “That means that if you feel threatened, then you don’t have the duty to retreat or try something else before using a firearm.”

Other measures included in the legislation is the removal of the requirement for some entities to post signs banning weapons from their property. The last change modifies the obligation that concealed carry permit holders keep their hands in plain sight when pulled over by an officer.

“That’s obviously an officer safety issue that we’re concerned with,” Michael Weinman, spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police, said. “… With bills like this, the devil is in the details.”

Weinman said he wasn’t surprised to see stand your ground legislation being considered in the Statehouse again. His organization and the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association oppose the current stand your ground bills, just as they did in 2013.

“I don’t see us coming out in support,” Weinman said. “I mean, we could get to a place where we would be neutral.”

Ohio’s political landscape has changed since similar legislation was proposed in 2013, which gives Uecker hope the legislation will be successful this time around. Following 2016 elections, Republicans controlled the governorship, House and Senate in the state.

“What good is it to make a firearm illegal if the bad guys don’t abide by the law,” Uecker implored. “If I didn’t expect it to pass, I would never have introduced it.”

This collaboration is produced in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded by the George Gund Foundation.


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United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo - D-Thornton - recently paid a visit to Salud Family Health Centers' mobile clinic.

Each year, Salud serves up to two thousand migrant farmworkers who travel from other states and countries to plant and harvest leafy greens, corn, wheat, sugar beets, and other crops in North Central and Northeastern Colorado.

Director Deborah Salazar said her team always gets a very warm welcome.

"And it's usually the same guys that come to the same farms or greenhouses," said Salazar. "And so it's like seeing old friends. They know who we are, they know what we can do for them, and they trust us. There is trust because we have been doing this for a very long time."

In addition to its 12 brick and mortar health centers, and ten school sites, the mobile unit provides primary health services three to four evenings per week - primarily in rural areas.

They screen workers for diabetes, hypertension, cervical cancer, and anemia. Workers can also get lab tests, and flu and tetanus vaccines.

Salud is a federally qualified community health center that provides medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health care services to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

The first clinic on wheels was acquired in 1980, and Salazar said a brand new unit was rolled out in 2022.

She said her team works to build relationships with farm owners and supervisors to find the best time to plan a visit.

"If they need us to come out and start our visit on the mobile unit at 7 p.m, we can do that," said Salazar. "We are super flexible, because we don't want to interrupt their work day."

Salazar said the medical staff on the mobile unit might be the only people migrant workers see when they are not out planting and harvesting crops.

"These are the folks that put food on our table," said Salazar. "To give them quality, integrated health care - and go to them, so that they are taken care of - this is the least we can do."




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After more than 50 years of use, some Michigan lawmakers say naloxone may not be the best choice in an overdose situation.

Naloxone is sometimes called the "Lazarus drug" because of its powerful ability to seemingly resurrect people after a drug overdose.

Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, and some of his colleagues have introduced a bill which would open the door for what they say are more costly, but more powerful, antidotes.

"Given the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities, and how much stronger some of these drugs that we're now seeing are, we believe -- and in talking with others -- that there should be other tools to respond to an overdose," Hertel explained. "To make sure we're doing everything we can to save somebody's life."

Not everyone is on board with the proposed legislation, Senate Bill 542. Opponents argued the more expensive naloxone alternatives are not necessary, and using them would only increase profits for the pharmaceutical industry.

Jonathan Stoltman, director of the Opioid Policy Institute in Grand Rapids, said while the naloxone alternatives do help in overdose situations, they can also cause nasty side effects.

"The newer approaches, they put people into more severe withdrawal," Stoltman pointed out. "That's a pretty profound negative side effect. The one approach is very inexpensive and works great; the other approach is far more expensive and has this strong negative side effect."

Sponsors of the bill say they're hoping to give Michigan residents a chance to chime in on the issue in a public hearing sometime in June. Michigan saw more than 3,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2021.


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New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.