stand your ground

BLACKSTONIAN EDITOR’S NOTE: This proposed act is similar to the Stand Your Ground Law now central to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida by “Neighborhood Patrol Captain” George Zimmerman Stand-your-ground law http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-your-ground_law Trayvon Martin Case: ‘Stand Your Ground Law’ At Center Of Shooting http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/trayvon-martin-case-stand_n_1372105.html Opponents of ‘Stand Your Ground’ law predicted ‘racially motivated killings’ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/22/opponents-of-stand-your-ground-law-predicted-racially-motivated-killings/ Legislation Watch: An Act relative to the common defense Bill S.661 Bill S.661 An Act relative to the common defense. http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S00661 By Mr. Brewer, petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 661) of Beaton, Frost, Golden and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the common defense [Joint Committee on the Judiciary]. Sponsors: Stephen M. Brewer Status: Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary SECTION 1. Chapter 278: Section 8A. Killing or injuring a person defense of self or others; Section 8A. It shall be an act of lawful defense if a person, who is an occupant of a dwelling or in any place that they have a right to be, used deadly force, or less than deadly force, if he or she acted in the reasonable belief that an assailant was about to inflict great bodily injury or death upon themselves or upon another person who also had a right to be in the location. There shall be no duty on a person to retreat from any place that they have a right to be. An act of lawful defense as outlined in this section shall not be cause for arrest or prosecution. Further, an act of lawful defense under this section shall not be cause for the revocation of a license issued under sections, 122, 123, 129B or 131 of Chapter 140. SECTION 2. Chapter 231: Section 85U. Death or injury to assailants; liability of defender Section 85U. No person who has committed an act of lawful defense as outlined in section 8A of chapter 278 shall be held liable in an action for damages for death or injuries to an assailant. http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S00661 Also the companion Bill in the House Rep. George N. Peterson, Jr Assistant Minority Leader (R) Grafton http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/House/H01568