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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 Carla Nelson 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 Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) gave the following statement in regards to the bill’s passage.
“The law should be on the side of the law abiding citizen, not on the side of dangerous, violent criminals. This bill is an important step in returning the right of self-defense to the lawful, responsible citizen. Current law allows victims to defend themselves with deadly force when facing a violent threat in their home but victims have a duty to retreat outside the home. More than 80 percent of violent crimes occur outside the home – our law should reflect that reality. This change protects victims who have used justified force in self-defense outside the home from criminal prosecution,” said Senator Nelson. “I am incredibly grateful for the men and women who risk their lives to keep our communities safe. That is why it was so important that this bill, like current law, expressly denies using deadly force against a law enforcement officer that is acting lawfully.”
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.
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.
