New Minn. Bill Expands Rights of Self-Defense

kstp.com ^ | 26 February, 2012 | Jay Kolls

[marktwain]

A new Minnesota Senate bill would give you more power to use self-defense outside your home.

Right now, Minnesota law allows you to protect yourself in your home if you are threatened or believe you are in imminent danger. The law also allows for the use of deadly force.

But, under that same law, if you are in public and threatened, you are technically supposed to try and leave the scene or diffuse the situation if possible. If you cannot "retreat" from the threat, you then can use deadly force in self-defense.

This new Senate bill, which passed 40-23, not along party lines, would eliminate the "retreat" portion of the law. This means you could use deadly force in self-defense the same as your home. There would only have to be a reasonable belief that you were in imminent danger --- anywhere in public --- and you could use deadly force to protect yourself, your family or any citizen in danger.

Opponents of the bill say it is not needed because current law already gives you the option of self-defense and could lead to more violence because people will automatically use the self-defense argument anytime there is a violent crime. The bill is also expected to pass the House and move to Governor Mark Dayton's desk. The Governor has not indicated whether he will veto it if it makes it to his office.

[marktwain]

This bill also increases reciprocity for other states' CCW permits.

[snowsislander]

Good. I hope that this law is enacted.

[Fireone]

Common sense legislation to protect law-abiding citizens.
Overwhelming support by freedom loving Minnesotans. Let’s see if the governor can make the right decision on this one.

[Nip]

Since this issue is so political it isn't an issue of making “the right decision”. Unfortunately, I expect the governor to make “the correct political decision”.

The correct political decision is based on the number of votes and/or campaign contributions generated by his decision. Not exactly nice; but, IMHO, a more realistic view. May I be proven wrong.

[Fireone]

I was being semi-sarcastic...this is the guy, who as senator, locked his office and left Washington during a crisis. He’d probably hide under his desk if he saw a picture of a gun. I expect him to make a democrat decision.