COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Senate unanimously passed a bill this week to further crack down on verbal and physical abuse against first responders and law enforcement officers.
However, civil rights activists said the bill and others like it go too far against First Amendment rights.
The Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 16 on Wednesday giving more protection to police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and their families against threats and violence.
“Over the past several months, we have seen how our nation’s first responders have been the target of intimidation, menacing and assault. And around the county, our first responders have been followed home, their property has been targeted and their families assaulted," said Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, the bill’s primary sponsor.
Senate Bill 16 increases the penalty of assault against "emergency service responders," on or off duty, or their family members to a felony. Someone could also face misdemeanor charges if they threaten them with a weapon as well as prevent them from responding to or leaving an emergency.
"We all agree that we don't want to see our first responders attacked and things of that nature. However, there are laws already in place," said Sen. Cecil Thomas, D-Cincinnati.
We remain opposed to it, but it has now become a much less worrisome bill," said ACLU of Ohio Chief Lobbyist Gary Daniels.
The ACLU of Ohio worked with the Senate to make Senate Bill 16 more First Amendment friendly after the organization raised concerns about parts dealing with free speech and peaceful protests.
Daniels said that is why the ACLU's top priority is now House Bill 109, which strengthens penalties for rioting and goes after anyone who provides "material support or resources" for participants.
"Part of the problem with using that phrase material support and resources is that is exact language that comes out of anti-terrorism law that was passed not long after 9/11,” Daniels said. “They are trying to equate people who engage in almost any level of civil disobedience with terrorists.”
Daniels said that could unfairly put lawyers and anyone who posts bail for someone charged with rioting in danger of being arrested themselves. He also fears it could stop people from speaking out altogether.
"It's what's known in the First Amendment world as chilling your speech and that itself can be a First Amendment violation," said Daniels.
House Bill 109 has not gotten a vote in the House while Senate Bill 16 now heads to the House for consideration.
Neither of House Bill 109's primary sponsors responded to a request by Spectrum News for comment.