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| Date: | February 23, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| Senator Gretchen Hoffman Statement on Senate Passage of Personal Protection Bill |
St. Paul— The Personal Protection bill (HF 1476) passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 40 to 23 in the Minnesota State Senate Thursday. Senator Gretchen Hoffman (R-Vergas), chief author of the Personal Protection bill, gave the following statement in regards to the bill’s passage.
“I’m proud that my colleagues in the Senate stood today on the side of law abiding, responsible citizens. Current self-defense laws are not enough. While current law enables the aggressor, my bill focuses on protecting the victim,” said Senator Hoffman. “The right of self-defense is fundamental, and has been recognized in law for centuries. This bill returns the right of self-defense to the law abiding citizen in order that we might protect ourselves, our property and our families. I encourage the Governor to sign the Personal Protection bill to ensure violent criminals never have the advantage over law-abiding citizens.”
The Defense of Dwelling and Person Act, a portion of the Personal Protection bill, makes four changes to existing self defense laws. It removes the “duty to retreat” provision, creates a presumption of reasonableness that protects victims if they defend themselves, allows victims to use up to deadly force against perpetrators of violent felonies, and protects victims from facing criminal prosecution or lawsuits for justifiably defending themselves.
The Personal Protection bill also addresses weapon seizure during state of emergencies and changes current law to recognize other states’ permits to carry or licenses from another state.
HF 1476 passed by a vote of 79 to 50 in the Minnesota State House in the 2011 session. If the House concurs with the Senate language, the Personal Protection bill will go to the Governor’s desk for his signature.
