The Ohio legislature — ears glued to the lips of the gun lobby — has again demonstrated that it’s lost sight of the reality in Ohio, where the proliferation of weapons has turned schools and cities into shooting ranges.

The latest assault on common sense and public safety is a public relations stunt to promote House Bill 234, a misconceived piece of legislation that would “allow a person to use a noise suppressor attached to a gun while hunting game birds or wild quadrupeds.”

It sounds like “Goodfellas” meets “Duck Dynasty” in yet another example of how our elected officials help the gun industry expand the marketplace for mayhem.

To demonstrate the need for H.B 234, members of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee will gather and as state Rep. John Becker describes it, “blow off some rounds” with and without noise suppressors.

Do you think it’s a good use of their time for Ohio lawmakers to make silencers on hunting weapons legal in Ohio?

“It has to do with hearing protection,” explained Becker, the Union Township Republican who co-sponsored the legislation. He maintains that the noise that accompanies the firing of a rifle, shotgun or pistol can lead to deafness over time….

Meanwhile, back in Cuyahoga County … Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath offers a suggestion.

“It would seem more reasonable if you were really concerned about a hunter’s hearing to spend a dollar for some earplugs.”

Where’s the profit in that?

 

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer