Two GOP state lawmakers want harsher penalties for crimes motivated by politics.
Introduced by Reps. Jack Daniels (R-New Franklin) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.), came in the wake of the recent assassinations of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman.
HB 457 seeks to define a state hate crime statute by adding a victim鈥檚 partisan affiliation and whether they serve or served in an elected office as classifications in aggravated murder cases. In Ohio, an aggravated murder charge carries a mandatory life sentence without eligibility for parole, and prosecutors can seek the death penalty.
It adds political motivation as an enhancement possible in any violent felony case, too, which would require the maximum sentence for the crime and an additional sentence of 10 years.
Daniels worries about the chilling effect on free and fair political conversations, he said.
鈥淭he fear of violence will quiet that in an unhealthy way for our democracy,鈥� Daniels said in an interview Wednesday.
In June, Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed in their Minnesota home. Just miles away, state Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife Yvette were shot. Both of them survived. 57-year-old Vance Boelter has been indicted on numerous federal charges, including murder.
The incident hit home for Daniels, a freshman lawmaker.
鈥淚t鈥檚 that this seems to be more normalized, that to say and do crazy things is okay,鈥� Daniels said. 鈥淚 do think we need to bring tone down.鈥�
Kirk, who was 31, founded Turning Point USA, which pushes for conservative politics at high schools and colleges. Federal and state officials allege he was shot and killed by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was arrested Thursday and charged Tuesday.
According to the legislative text, HB 457 also seeks to define 鈥渂iological sex,鈥� which excludes an individual鈥檚 gender identity. Biological sex is among the other hate crime classifications listed in the bill.
As prosecutors in Utah seek the death penalty against Kirk鈥檚 alleged killer, Ohio lawmakers have long debated whether to find other methods of executions or eliminate the death penalty altogether.
Executions have stood still for nearly seven years, due in part to what Gov. Mike DeWine says is pharmaceutical companies鈥� opposition to use of their products in the drug concoction that creates a lethal injection.
A growing contingent of GOP lawmakers oppose the death penalty in practice, but then-Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said last year it鈥檚 far from most of the caucus鈥檚 members.
Right now, there are two proposals that would abolish the death penalty in Ohio鈥攁 perennial but historically standalone piece of legislation鈥攁nd also reaffirm bans on state funds going toward physician-assisted suicide or abortion.
