{"id":46,"date":"2011-06-22T20:13:39","date_gmt":"2011-06-22T20:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/monachuslex.com\/?p=46"},"modified":"2011-06-22T20:13:39","modified_gmt":"2011-06-22T20:13:39","slug":"pennsylvania-passes-self-defense-improvement-bill-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/monachuslex.com\/?p=46","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Passes Self-Defense Improvement Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pennsylvania<\/a>On the same day that the Wisconsin Assembly passed their historic carry bill, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill which strengthens the statutory Castle Doctrine, removes the duty to retreat in certain public places, and offers a legal presumption of reasonableness in certain cases of self defense. \u00a0 The bill,\u00a0House Bill 40<\/a>,\u00a0was overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 45 – 5<\/a> with both Democrat and Republican support.<\/p>\n

This bill, which now goes to Governor Corbett for his promised signature, contains numerous improvements to Pennsylvania law. \u00a0 However, as I mentioned above, there are several key provisions which are of particular interest.<\/p>\n

The first of these \u00a0is the Castle Doctrine improvements. \u00a0The definition of a ‘dwelling<\/em>‘ was expanded to include ‘any\u00a0attached porch, deck or patio<\/em>‘ while a definition of ‘residence<\/em>‘ was added which includes ‘A dwelling in which a person resides, either temporarily or permanently, or visits as an invited guest.<\/em>‘ \u00a0Similarly, a definition of ‘vehicle<\/em>‘ was added to include ‘A conveyance of any kind, whether or not motorized, that is designed to transport people or property<\/em>.’<\/p>\n

These definitional changes are important because subsequent provisions, both new and existing, then incorporate them by reference into the newly enacted protections. \u00a0Since those protections consistently reference ‘dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle<\/em>‘, they encompass everything from an intruder on the patio of a friends motorhome where you are visiting to someone attempting to rob you while you are horseback riding.<\/p>\n

The second important improvement is the change to the Duty to Retreat provisions currently in Pennsylvania law when a citizen is not in their home or business. \u00a0Under the new bill, a person has no duty to retreat from a public place if they:<\/p>\n