Man wants to go barefoot in Ohio Statehouse

[April 29, 2010]  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A man is battling the Ohio Statehouse over the right to bare feet. Bob Neinast said 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 said the Statehouse board is now considering a ban and plans to hold a public hearing.

Neinast previously lost a lawsuit against the Columbus public library's no-bare-feet policy.

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Information from: WSYX-TV, http://www.wsyx6.com/

[Associated Press]

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