Man wants to go barefoot in Ohio Statehouse

COLUMBUS (AP) — A man is battling the Ohio Statehouse over the right to bare feet.

Bob Neinast says his feet hurt when he wears shoes, so he goes barefoot nearly everywhere, even in winter. The man from the Columbus suburb of Pickerington calls it a healthy lifestyle that makes him feel closer to places he visits.

When he tried to go shoeless in the Ohio capitol recently, he was stopped by an officer who said Neinast was violating the rules.

Officials have since learned that there is no such rule against bare feet in the Statehouse. Spokesman Gregg Dodd says the Statehouse board is now considering a ban and plans to have a public hearing.

Neinast says the Statehouse’s tile floors could be dangerous to high heels, so maybe they should be banned, too.