Minnesota police and prosecutors oppose law allowing citizens to shoot first, ask questions later
NRA sponsored gun bill gets thumbs-down
Article by: JIM RAGSDALE
Star Tribune
February 17, 2012 - 5:59 AM
Police and prosecutors took a united stand Thursday against a bill that would expand the definition of self-defense and the use of deadly force for civilians who feel threatened in their homes and cars and in public places.
"Standing here is all law enforcement, all Minnesota's prosecutors," Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told a State Capitol news conference. "We unanimously oppose this bill."
The Minneapolis and St. Paul police chiefs, representatives of the state's police chiefs and rank-and-file officers, and the state County Attorneys Association joined Freeman in denouncing the bill as a threat to officers who knock on doors and chase suspects through yards.
Their target is a deadly-force bill called the "castle doctrine" that appears headed for approval by the Republican-controlled Legislature, and which the full Senate plans to take up next Thursday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Gretchen Hoffman, R-Vergas, and Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, rewrites state law for civilians who use deadly force in self-defense. It is a top national priority of the National Rifle Association, which has encouraged its members to lobby the Legislature to approve it.
(More here.)
Article by: JIM RAGSDALE
Star Tribune
February 17, 2012 - 5:59 AM
Police and prosecutors took a united stand Thursday against a bill that would expand the definition of self-defense and the use of deadly force for civilians who feel threatened in their homes and cars and in public places.
"Standing here is all law enforcement, all Minnesota's prosecutors," Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told a State Capitol news conference. "We unanimously oppose this bill."
The Minneapolis and St. Paul police chiefs, representatives of the state's police chiefs and rank-and-file officers, and the state County Attorneys Association joined Freeman in denouncing the bill as a threat to officers who knock on doors and chase suspects through yards.
Their target is a deadly-force bill called the "castle doctrine" that appears headed for approval by the Republican-controlled Legislature, and which the full Senate plans to take up next Thursday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Gretchen Hoffman, R-Vergas, and Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, rewrites state law for civilians who use deadly force in self-defense. It is a top national priority of the National Rifle Association, which has encouraged its members to lobby the Legislature to approve it.
(More here.)
Labels: castle doctrine
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2 Comments:
Well, I'll be damned. You mean agents of the government - police and prosecutors - oppose force they don't first authorize?
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