Pit bulls in Rome Township

Over in Lawrence County, Ohio, the Rome Township trustees are considering an ordinance that has drawn fierce opposition everywhere else it has been tried. According to a legal ad on Page 7D of the Wednesday, 12/12 The Herald-Dispatch, the trustees are considering a resolution "prohibiting the ownership or harboring of pit bull terriers and other vicious dogs within the limits of Rome Township." Three readings are scheduled: Dec. 18, Jan. 22 and Feb. 26.

I remember covering proposals like this back in the mid 1980s. Based on those experiences, the resolution will go nowhere. Someone will fix on the legal definition of "pit bull terrier." Someone else will ask why one breed is being singled out. Another will ask why they can't just ban vicious dogs with no reference to breed. And a parliamentarian will say a resolution has no binding legal authority; for that you need an ordinance.

So far I've not heard anything about this resolution. Perhaps we will soon.

People have been fighting this battle for 20 years. I can understand the goal, but I don't see how the ban can be legal. But that's why they hire lawyers.