13/10/2026
“What began as one concerned resident’s objection to gun-shaped cigarette lighters being sold in a neighborhood convenience store has become another example of the power of grassroots organizing, community advocacy, and citizen participation in local government.
On September 23, 2026, the Dayton City Commission passed the Novelty Gun Lighter Prohibition Act, legislation prohibiting the retail sale and public display of novelty lighters designed to resemble actual fi****ms. The ordinance, scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027, represents a significant victory for community members who raised concerns about the potential dangers these products pose, particularly to children and young people.”
Racial Justice NOW! (RJN) is a community based, grassroots org led by parents pushing back on dehumanization in education.