Pulling back the curtain – how the Vitale Amendment died yesterday

Yesterday morning, at the request of Ohio Gun Owners, Representative Nino Vitale (R-Urbana) attempted to run a major pro-gun amendment to HB142 that would benefit gun owners across the state.

If you’ve been watching our emails or seeing our Facebook posts, you already know that in its original form, HB142 was a rock-solid bill that would’ve eliminated Ohio’s notorious “duty to notify” law that requries CHL holders to notify law-enforcement on contact that you are carrying a firearm.

And you already know that HB142 was gutted and stuffed several weeks ago as legislative leadership prepared to move HB142 to the House floor for a vote.

Sure, it lowered the fines and fees you face if you don’t properly notify an officer that you are exercising your Right to bear arms.

But Ohio Gun Owners isn’t in the business of making deals with politicians that only buff up the handcuffs that law-abiding gun owners are forced to wear.

On the contrary, we operate from the assumption that legislators work for us, and that if they don’t deliver then we’ll meet them at election time in their districts.

And the fact is, with two-thirds Republican super-majorities in control in Columbus, there was no reason for the half-measure HB142 had become.

If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing it right.

That’s why we asked Representative Vitale to offer his amendment.

All the Vitale Amendment would have done was replace the watered-down version of HB142 with its original, rock-solid version!

If passed, Ohio would have joined the 40 states across America that already respect the Right to Bear Arms without “notification!”

But then the shenanigans started.

First off, debate on HB142 was delayed – a sure sign that something was up.

Those of us in the gallery witnessed a steady stream of legislators being called back into the Speaker’s office – undoubtedly being whipped into silence about what was about to happen.

But Representative Vitale was resolute, and refused attempts to convince him to pull his pro-gun amendment.

He had done all the legwork beforehand. He filed the amendment on time, got it on the docket, and it was on everyone’s laptop screens, next on the order of business.

Here’s what each and every legislator and staffer had on their screens in front of them – including Speaker Cliff Rosenberger! 

But when Rep Vitale rose to move his amendment, Speaker Cliff Rosenberger threw House procedure rules in the trash, deliberately refused to acknowledge Representative Vitale and the amendment in front of him, and gaveled right past it to the vote on HB142. 

Now, I’ve been a pro-gun activist since 2010, working with pro-gun organizations in several states like Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri before moving here to Ohio to raise my family.

And in those years, I’ve seen a fair number of shenanigans pulled to block, stop and thwart pro-gun legislators.

But watching a Republican Speaker of the House deliberately trample a legislator – and the people the legislator represents – in full view of the House body is nothing short of breathtaking.

That’s why I hope you’ll watch this video Representative Vitale and I have prepared for you recounting yesterday’s events.

When you are done, I hope you will take a moment to email Representative Vitale and thank him for taking a bold stand for gun owners.

A lot of politicians talk a good “pro-gun” talk when they are on the campaign trail, but for a politician to go to bat in a major way to honor those campaign promises is a rare treat! 

So please take a moment to send Representative Vitale a quick note and thank him!

With HB142 failing to do the job it set out to do, our work on HB201, the Ohio Constitutional Carry bill, has never been more important.

As you can tell from the video above, mobilized engaged gun owners by the thousands are the only sure bet to passing major pro-gun bills like Constitutional Carry or Stand-Your-Ground here in Ohio.

And that’s what we’re doing here at Ohio Gun Owners – identifying and mobilizing a grassroots army of gun owners like you.

So if you are not already a member of Ohio Gun Owners, please become one today.

Ohio Gun Owners is only effective fighting for gun rights at the Statehouse if we are backed by tens of thousands of gun owners like you, and only if we have the resources to pour on the pressure when it matters most.

So please join with us today.

We appreciate your support!

 

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