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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 MIKE PARRY 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 Mike Parry (R-Waseca), co-sponsor of the bill, gave the following statement in regards to the bill’s passage.
“As a former police officer, I know that it is only a few seconds between life and death. When rushing to the scene, if law enforcement is 15 seconds away, they might be 14 seconds too late. This law returns the right of self-defense to the law abiding citizen. While current law sides with the violent criminal, our bill focuses on protecting the victim,” said Senator Parry. “I am optimistic that Governor Dayton will sign this bill, which garnered bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, to support victims of violent crimes.”
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.
