There鈥檚 a bill in the Ohio legislature that鈥檚 meant to help people who live in food deserts - urban areas where they can鈥檛 readily access fresh foods. The legislation would allow residents in those areas to raise small animals for food. But some lawmakers think it鈥檚 in bad taste.
The bill would trump home rule in local communities by permitting property owners to keep a limited number of chickens, goats or other small animals to feed their families. But Republican Representative Kyle Koehler, who himself lives on a farm, thinks this idea could be a recipe for disaster.
鈥淲hat are you going to do when the chickens get out? I鈥檝e chased chickens all over my property. Turkeys, goats. Somebody has a goat and they think that goat is just going to stay in a little pen? What happens when it gets out and eats the neighbor鈥檚 flowers and I鈥檓 telling you, that鈥檚 gonna happen.鈥�
Koehler and other lawmakers say cities should have home rule on this matter. The bill鈥檚 sponsor, conservative Republican Tom Brinkman, told a committee it鈥檚 no different than people having their second amendment rights to carry a gun.
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