Posted on 01/18/2011 1:22:26 PM PST by Gopher Broke
For Immediate Release
Contact: Garren Shipley (540) 686-1138
Democrat Roscoe Reynolds Lets 'Castle Doctrine' Bill Die Without So Much as a Word
-- Legislation that would protect homeowners who use deadly force to protect themselves during a home-break in -
RPV Chairman Pat Mullins issued the following statement on Reynolds' inaction:
"When I was told that Roscoe Reynolds let SB 876 die in his committee, I simply couldn't believe what I was hearing.
The last thing a homeowner in Virginia needs to be worried about when they're facing down an armed intruder is 'Will he be able to sue me if I defend myself?' This law would have given Virginians the security of knowing that the law was on their side - in both the criminal and civil arenas - if they were forced to defend themselves or their families using deadly force inside their own home.
Senator Reynolds let the bill die without saying a word in its defense - in fact, he questioned a number of witnesses as to whether or not anyone had ever filed such a suit before, implying that there's no need to protect homeowners until someone is sued by a would-be home invasion robber.
Roscoe's silence shows that he cares more about the rights of home invasion robbers than the safety and security of the Virginians he represents. The residents of the 20th District deserve far better from their state Senator." Background:
Unlike several other states, Virginia has no codified "Castle Doctrine," which holds that someone required to use deadly force to defend their home or family cannot be held liable in a civil trial for their actions. In other words, the perpetrators of a home-invasion style robbery or their survivors can't successfully sue the homeowner for injury or wrongful death.
SB 876 would have written those protections into Virginia law, but Democrats on the Senate Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee, killed the bill.
###
J. Garren Shipley Communications Director Republican Party of Virginia
Paid for and authorized by the Republican Party of Virginia
You can share you thoughts with Sen. Reynolds here:
district20@senate.virginia.gov
General Assembly Building, Room 332
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-7520
Well. I guess that means the homeowner will be up all night burying the perp instead of just reporting the righteous shoot. That sucks. Too much extra work now.
Just make sure the invader dies when shot?
Makes sense. Trial lawyers are a big source of cash for the Democrat party. The Castle Doctrine would cut off a source of income for them.
Remember that if your home is invaded you must stand back and let them have whatever they want, even your daughter.
Thats what the left wants.
Will this cause the homeowners to fire a couple of extra rounds into the still-breathing body of the invader?
Yep. Just submit.
Come on, Virginia, ride that horse to victory in 2012.
A related observation. I attended Lobby Day yesterday in Richmond. There were plenty of ordinary Virginians packing yesterday as they met with their representatives. You just let the security people know that you had a weapon when you went thru the metal detectors. No problem.
Not to mention the attendant reduction in numbers of a core Democrat constituency—Criminals.
480 PING
” ‘Will he be able to sue me if I defend myself?’ “
Not if you get to the range often, and use hollow points.
Just throw the body into your neighbors yard.
That means you’d have to dig out that damned bullet....either that or be damned sure you only use a shotgun - without rifled slugs/barrel....
Speaking just for myself, Castle Doctrine strikes me as one of the most common sense provisions a legislature could adopt. A thief who’s just after your stuff is going to try to hit your home when you’re away. If he (or she) comes when you’re most likely to be home, then he’s most likely either desperate or after something a whole lot more precious than your material possessions. Either of those cases mean great danger for a homeowner and his family.
The public roads have a use here.
We have a state election coming up this November and these Senate Democrats just wrote their epitaph in a state where the rank and file hates Democrats. They only have a four seat majority which will now easily take. The Democratic party will cease to exist in VA in November 11.
Senator Reynolds is dead meat this coming November. I will add his defeat to Nye, Pereillo, and Boucher whom I helped bag this past November.
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