Common sense
Perry signs off on changes to self-defense law
By Kelley Shannon / Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 03/27/2007 02:57:56 PM MDT
AUSTIN - Intruders beware. Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed into law Tuesday a new bill that gives Texans a stronger legal right to use deadly force to defend themselves in their homes, cars and workplaces.
Both chambers of the Legislature overwhelmingly approved the measure earlier this month. The bill, backed by the National Rifle Association, the leading gun owners' lobbying group, states that a person has no duty to retreat from an intruder before using deadly force.
''The right to defend oneself from an imminent act of harm should not only be clearly defined in Texas law, but it is intuitive to human nature. You ought to be able to protect yourself,'' Perry said, surrounded by lawmakers who had pushed for the law.
The law, which takes effect Sept. 1, has been referred to as the ''castle doctrine,'' drawing from the idea that a man's home is his castle and he should have the right to defend it. At least 15 other U.S. states have passed similar laws.
Under the new law, the building or vehicle must be occupied for the deadly force provision to apply, and the person using force cannot provoke the attacker or be involved in criminal activity at the time.
Sen. Jeff Wentworth, a San Antonio Republican who pushed for the measure in the upper chamber, said it changes previous Texas law that in some cases requires a person to retreat from an intruder.
The new law will also provide civil immunity for a person who lawfully uses deadly force in any of the circumstances spelled out in the bill. Police and prosecutors can still press charges if they feel deadly force was illegally used, legislative sponsors said.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
Article courtesy of The El Paso Times, but also available via a number of other news sources. It's actually a "stand your ground" bill, not "castle doctrine." Perry's got it right - "you ought to be able to protect yourself." This bill takes effect September 1st; the Brady Bunch is already predicting "blood in the streets" just like they did with the other states that have passed similar legislation in recent years. It hasn't happened yet.
One step at a time, 2A is being re-recognized as part of the law of this land.
By Kelley Shannon / Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 03/27/2007 02:57:56 PM MDT
AUSTIN - Intruders beware. Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed into law Tuesday a new bill that gives Texans a stronger legal right to use deadly force to defend themselves in their homes, cars and workplaces.
Both chambers of the Legislature overwhelmingly approved the measure earlier this month. The bill, backed by the National Rifle Association, the leading gun owners' lobbying group, states that a person has no duty to retreat from an intruder before using deadly force.
''The right to defend oneself from an imminent act of harm should not only be clearly defined in Texas law, but it is intuitive to human nature. You ought to be able to protect yourself,'' Perry said, surrounded by lawmakers who had pushed for the law.
The law, which takes effect Sept. 1, has been referred to as the ''castle doctrine,'' drawing from the idea that a man's home is his castle and he should have the right to defend it. At least 15 other U.S. states have passed similar laws.
Under the new law, the building or vehicle must be occupied for the deadly force provision to apply, and the person using force cannot provoke the attacker or be involved in criminal activity at the time.
Sen. Jeff Wentworth, a San Antonio Republican who pushed for the measure in the upper chamber, said it changes previous Texas law that in some cases requires a person to retreat from an intruder.
The new law will also provide civil immunity for a person who lawfully uses deadly force in any of the circumstances spelled out in the bill. Police and prosecutors can still press charges if they feel deadly force was illegally used, legislative sponsors said.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
Article courtesy of The El Paso Times, but also available via a number of other news sources. It's actually a "stand your ground" bill, not "castle doctrine." Perry's got it right - "you ought to be able to protect yourself." This bill takes effect September 1st; the Brady Bunch is already predicting "blood in the streets" just like they did with the other states that have passed similar legislation in recent years. It hasn't happened yet.
One step at a time, 2A is being re-recognized as part of the law of this land.
posted by quidni | 9:23 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home