Free Republic

You're home may be considered you're castle but legally in Nebraska you're not allowed to stand your ground if an intruder breaks in but lawmakers are trying to change that. Imagine. You're lying in bed and you hear your door get broken into and then you hear the terrifying footsteps of someone walking down the hallway toward your room. You're first thought might be to protect yourself but legally in Nebraska that's not your first option. "Right now the current law in the state of Nebraska requires that you retreat from the assailant or the source of danger," said Deputy...

RICHMOND – Del. Dickie Bell, (R-Staunton), is sponsoring two bills that would empower Virginians to use lethal force against an intruder in their home. House Bill 47 would grant civil immunity to anyone who injures or kills someone while defending their home from another person who has posed a threat of injury to the other or has entered the home unlawfully. House Bill 48 would enshrine in Virginia law the “Castle Doctrine” that about 30 other states have. The bill would allow the use of physical or deadly force in someone’s home if an intruder has committed an “overt act...

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly attributed a quote about the "presumption of reasonableness" to Jessica Karls-Ruplinger. The quote belongs to Steven Jansen and Elaine Nugent-Borakove in a 2007 article about the Castle Doctrine. When Gov. Scott Walker was campaigning last year, he proclaimed his support for legislation giving citizens broad new legal protections for defending themselves in their homes against unwanted intruders. The notion is called the Castle Doctrine, and Walker promised he'd sign such a bill into law if he was elected and the Legislature passed it. "Homeowners should take comfort in knowing that their...

1/6/2012 7:29:00 AM Castle Doctrine expands rights of citizens to defend themselves Presumption of belief, no liability for self-defense Richard Moore Investigative Reporter When Gov. Scott Walker was campaigning last year, he proclaimed his support for legislation giving citizens broad new legal protections for defending themselves in their homes against unwanted intruders. The notion is called the Castle Doctrine, and Walker promised he'd sign such a bill into law if he was elected and the Legislature passed it. "Homeowners should take comfort in knowing that their home is truly their castle, which is why I support citizens' rights to protect...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The White Castle hamburger chain is sipping on the idea of selling alcoholic beverages at its restaurants. The 90-year-old company is testing beer and wine sales at a location in Lafayette, Ind., that combines a traditional White Castle burger joint with a Blaze Modern BBQ, a new restaurant concept also being tried out. In other cities, Columbus, Ohio-based White Castle is testing an Asian food concept and a restaurant that serves grilled sandwiches.

Washington State armed citizens are being lobbied to push for adoption of a proposed statute that will strengthen the Evergreen State’s lethal force self-defense law, a measure that was introduced in January and now waits for more co-sponsors. Leading the charge is veteran firearms instructor Marty Hayes, founder of the Firearms Academy of Seattle. His primary concern is a 2005 Supreme Court ruling in State v. Brightman, a case involving a man who, during the course of a fistfight over $20, pulled a gun and struck his opponent only to have the pistol discharge, fatally wounding Dexter Villa near Titlow...

Madison - Homeowners who shoot intruders will have new legal protections, under a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Scott Walker. The Republican governor also signed legislation to limit attorney fees in lawsuits - a bill that conservatives said would end frivolous lawsuits but which Democrats said also would end many lawsuits with merit. Under the intruders bill, courts in most criminal and civil matters would presume that people using deadly force had acted reasonably against anyone unlawfully inside their residence, business or vehicle, whether the trespasser was armed or not. The proposal is sometimes known as the "castle doctrine," a...

Republicans don’t watch MTV’s Jersey Shore. But they dig ABC’s Castle. Democrats don’t like Discovery’s Deadliest Catch. But they swoon for NBC’s Parks and Recreation. ... In the findings, “sarcastic” media-savvy comedies and morally murky antiheroes tend to draw Dems. While serious work-centered shows (both reality shows and stylized scripted procedurals), along with reality competitions, tend to draw conservatives... LIBERAL-DEMOCRAT FAVORITES: – The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report (Comedy Central): As you might expect. – 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation (NBC): Literate media-savvy comedies score high among Dems in general, notes Experian-Simmons senior marketing manager...

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - The Coroner says another man who died last Friday in a separate shooting suffered from a gun shot wound to the head and has ruled it a homicide. Though, Colorado's "Make my Day" law could keep the shooter from serving any time behind bars. The incident happened the day after Thanksgiving on Indiana Street in Orchard Mesa. According to Mesa County Sheriff Office, two men were in the home when Jesus Ray Sanchez Jr. tried to force his way into their home. Colorado's "Make my Day" law gives citizens the right to use deadly force...

This is a video story about the Ohio Castle Doctrine law. It is surprisingly well done, with very little political correctness. There is an annoying commercial at the beginning of the video clip, but it is not very long. The video is worth watching because it is not politically correct, so it goes against the usual progressive mindset in the MSM.

New laws go into effect for NC, including changes to Castle DoctrineBy: NBC17 Staff Published: December 01, 2011 **SNIP** Under the bill, a person charged with murder, manslaughter, or assault on a pregnant woman will face the same charged for the unborn child. **SNIP** Other laws that went into effect Dec.1: Laura's Law. This toughens sentences on repeat drunk drivers. It's named for 17-year-old Laura Fortenberry who was killed in a crash by a repeat offender. Police will start taking DNA samples from people arrested for an assortment of crimes. It used to only apply to suspects arrested for violent...

North Carolina’s new “Castle Doctrine” law, which addresses certain circumstances under which a person can legally shoot or use other deadly force against another, takes effect Thursday. North Carolina’s current Castle Doctrine only applies to homes, but under the new law it also applies to vehicles and places of work. The Castle Doctrine, rooted in English common law, expresses the belief that one should be safe from illegal intrusion in one’s home. The new law is much longer and clarifies when deadly force can be used. New law more specific The new law defines a person’s home as any property...

With two recent armed robberies in the area, we wanted to know if anything might change with a new self defense law in place. A bill known as the ‘castle doctrine’ cleared the senate and assembly earlier this month. Monday morning in two separate incidence's two homes were robbed at gun point. One was in Eau Claire the other was in Hudson. In both cases the suspects were arrested a short time later but home invasions could soon change in Wisconsin. "With the advent of the castle doctrine the theory is if someone unlawfully enters your home armed or unarmed...

Under one proposal the Assembly passed Tuesday, homeowners acting in self-defense would be immune from criminal or civil liability of they kill someone who is unlawfully in their residence, vehicle or workplace. The bill requires a court to presume that the use of deadly force was necessary to prevent harm to the person being attacked or another person when the attack happens at the defender's home. "The citizens of this state, they just want to feel secure in their homes," said the bill's sponsor Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah. "They just want the ability to protect themselves without the fear of...

A bill headed to the floor of the state Assembly would allow a person who kills or injures someone who breaks into their home, business or car, to claim self-defense. The bill strengthens what is known as the Castle doctrine and it has strong backing from the National Rifle Association and state law enforcement agencies. Before it was approved by the Assembly Judiciary Committee this week there was some debate about the definition of someone's castle or dwelling, as the bill defines it. Democratic state Rep. Tony Staskunas wanted to know what the boundaries of a dwelling are when someone...

On the subject of self defense, New Hampshire is about to enter a new era in which citizens have broader authority to make their own decisions. On Wednesday, the House overrode Gov. John Lynch’s veto of Senate Bill 88. The Senate had overridden the veto the week before. The bill changes state weapons laws in four important ways. 1. It removes the mere display of a weapon from the state’s definition of what constitutes the use of “deadly force.” 2. It removes the mandatory prison sentence for felonies committed while in possession of or using or attempting to use a...

To the New Hampshire Legislature: Please override the anti-self-defense veto of Gov. John Lynch. As a defense attorney, I have represented many individuals who never fired a shot but displayed or pointed a firearm in self-defense. I can assure you that New Hampshire citizens need Senate Bill 88. Actually we need much stronger protective language, but this is the language the committee passed. The Officer Friendly that you see is not how many of these cops behave around citizens who have had to use a firearm to save themselves or others from harm. In one case, the police charged a...

The veto of Senate Bill 88 should be overridden by the Legislature. This castle doctrine legislation does not and would not allow criminals to use a firearm (probably already obtained illegally) in an illegal act, such as shooting another gang member to use this legislation as a means to escape justice. It does not even permit law-abiding citizens who legally own firearms to fire in self-defense without accountability to whether deadly force was imminent and whether it may have even been appropriate under those circumstances to use a firearm (e.g., a crowded street filled with citizens). Only the criminals and...

DOVER, NH — Local law enforcement officials in support of Gov. John Lynch’s veto of a bill that would allow citizens to use deadly force in self-defense with civil immunity say they’re not only satisfied with the current law, but are concerned the new bill would produce unintended consequences. SB 88, which would allow a person to use deadly force to protect themselves or a third party and face civil immunity in certain circumstances, was vetoed earlier this year by Lynch, who has been vocal in his view that the bill would make the job of law enforcement more difficult....

When the New Hampshire Legislature reconvenes this fall to take up the governor’s vetoes, one of the bills that appears almost certain to be overridden is SB 88, which would broaden an individual’s right to use deadly force to defend oneself in public. The House of Representatives approved the final version of the bill, 283-89, while the Senate followed suit on a 19-5 vote – both comfortably beyond the two-thirds majorities lawmakers need to override Gov. John Lynch’s veto. Just because they can, however, doesn’t mean they should. This bill is as unnecessary as it is unwise, and we urge...