Ohio set to pass "Castle Doctrine"

An editorial on the topic can be seen here:

Both houses of the Ohio General Assembly have passed a “Castle Doctrine” bill similar to those in place in many states. Gov. Ted Strickland, who supported the measure, is expected to sign the bill into law.

Opponents of the bill had warned that it could grant criminals licenses to kill in some situations. Their criticism sounded much like that voiced over another measure, the so-called “concealed carry” law, enacted four years ago.

But that law, fine-tuned to some extent by the new bill, did not result in the havoc that critics predicted. They had warned that the “concealed carry” law would make it easier for criminals to carry guns and to use them against police officers. But during the four years the law has been in existence, we have heard of few problems relating to it.

The same will be true of the “Castle Doctrine,” we believe. It merely codifies what many Buckeye State residents probably believed was the law anyway — that Ohioans have a right to kill attackers in self-defense, or in defense of their homes. Current law actually requires that those facing such attackers must “retreat” before responding with deadly force.