COLUMBUS, Ohio – A firearms law will change in favor of gun owners and the Ohio General Assembly is getting pay raises, thanks to a rare, post-Christmas session lawmakers held Thursday to override vetoes by Gov. John Kasich.

Also on Thursday, lawmakers attempted to override a Kasich veto of a fetal heartbeat abortion ban, but failed. They also announced that they are not going to override an 18-month-old Kasich veto of a freeze on Medicaid expansion enrollment, which keeps the program intact.

The Ohio Constitution states a three-fifths' vote in each chamber is necessary to override a governor’s veto. Both chambers are dominated by Republicans.

Gun measure

House Bill 228 shifts the burden of proof in self-defense cases from the shooter to prosecutors. It also expands gun access in government subsidized housing and for off-duty police, among other provisions.

The House voted to enact the bill over Kasich’s objection Thursday morning, 67 to 22. Later in the Senate, the vote was 21 to 11.

Ohio is the only state that places the burden of proof on shooters, meaning during an investigation of a shooting, the gun owners have to prove they were acting in self-defense.

Lawmakers who supported the bill argued that the provision is antiquated and needed to change to align with the other states.

Although the votes were largely on party lines, there were some notable exceptions of Republicans who sided with Kasich in the gun fight.

Sen. John Eklund, a Geauga County Republican, has been arguing against the bill for weeks and said again on Thursday that no one has offered him a compelling reason why Ohio should change the burden of proof. He said that aligning Ohio to other states isn’t an explanation of why it is necessary.

“I’m telling you, you’re causing a great deal of disruption in the jury system,” he told lawmakers before casting his “nay” vote.

Sen. Peggy Lehner, a Dayton-area Republican, also argued lawmakers should support the veto. She said that shooting deaths of police officers are up because of gun violence.

Under the bill, it would be up to prosecutors in use-of-force cases to prove that a defendant did not act in self-defense. The bill formerly contained “stand-your-ground” provisions, which eliminated the duty for gun owners to retreat. But lawmakers recently removed that provision.

Kasich vetoed the bill because he didn’t like the shift in burden. He also is disappointed lawmakers didn’t consider a “red flag” bill that would temporarily remove gun rights from people who could be a harm to themselves or others.

Pay raises

In its original form, Senate Bill 295 extended benefits for families of fallen police and firefighters.

However, lawmakers amended and passed the bill around midnight Dec. 14 with provisions giving pay raises to a number of public officials, including lawmakers.

The veto override passed the Senate, 25 to 6. The House then passed it, 70 to 16.

Kasich thought extending the benefits to survivors was admirable. But described the pay raise part of the measure as a “grubby money bill."

Other provisions

In addition to veto overrides, lawmakers acted on other measures.