Home-defense legislation introduced

COLUMBUS — Two lawmakers from northwestern Ohio introduced legislation Wednesday providing legal protections to Ohioans defending their homes, their families and themselves against violent attacks.

The self-defense bills would create the legal presumption that residents fighting back against home intruders acted in self defense and would grant them immunity from future civil claims made by perpetrators.

The bills are being offered by Sen. Steve Buehrer, a Republican from Delta, and Rep. Lynn Wachtmann, a Republican from Napoleon. “People want to feel safe in their homes and in their communities,” Buehrer said.

Under existing law, residents defending their homes against intruders must prove the perpetrators were close enough to do them harm and intended to do harm. The proposed legislation reverses those roles, forcing criminals to prove they did not intend to harm occupants, Wachtmann said.