This specific Castle Doctrine bill will ensure that law abiding residents don’t have to retreat in their own homes before defending themselves from criminal attack. It also protects citizens from the expense of fighting civil lawsuits filed by criminals or their families when self-defense was justified. Here are key provisions of HB40:

• The bill eliminates the duty to retreat within one’s home, including attached structures like porches, decks and patios. There is an exception for people who are using their property to further a criminal activity. The provision also applies to vehicles, including non-motorized vehicles.
• The bill also eliminates the duty to retreat on the streets provided one is in fear of grave bodily injury or harm, and provided they are not engaged in criminal activity.
• It provides civil immunity for actions that are ruled self-defense. If the perpetrator sues anyway, it’s a loser pays system, so you can recover attorneys fees.
• HB40 clarifies the definition of loaded firearm to include magazines being secured in a separate pouch, rather than specifying a separate container, provided the magazine is secure, and the ammunition covered.

Contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee today. Based on the response to Castle Doctrine in other states, we know that gun control groups will get involved in this fight, making it seem as if we will have gun fights on every street corner. As we know, such dire predictions have yet to come true. Make sure you voice is heard! Call, e-mail, tweet, or even leave a note on their Facebook walls – just make sure your voice is heard!

Email 11 representatives with two clicks!

Show support for Castle Doctrine on Twitter with two clicks!

Castle Doctrine to be Heard in PA House

This bill stands a good chance of getting heard and passed out of committee if we look at the composition of the Senate Judiciary Committee, but only if we make our voices heard.  Below is a list of committee members with links to contact information, along with their NRA grades, to aid in messaging.

Majority (R)

• Greenleaf (chair), B rated
• White (vice chair), A rated
• Browne, A- rated
• Earll, A rated
• Gordner, A rated
• Orie, A rated
• Piccola, A+ rated
• Rafferty, A rated

Minority (D)

• Leach (minority chair), F rated
• Boscola, B+ rated
• Costa, C rated
• Fontana, not rated
• Stack, C- rated

Please contact the committee members, and ask that they support this bill.  The question will be where Stu Greenleaf is going to stand on this bill, and whether he’ll want to bring it up.  But pretty clearly, we have a lot of highly rated Republicans on this committee, and we could do worse with the Democrats, so it has a good chance.  Let’s get it passed, get it on Rendell’s desk.  Even if he vetoes it, we can make it a campaign issue in the 2010 Governor’s race.

Castle Doctrine Introduced

However, Nancy Pelosi, fearing the same amendment would be added in the House, actually pulled the bill from the calendar in order to have time to pressure members.  This morning, the Washington Post published an article that gives us an idea of what Pelosi’s is doing in the House.  Left-leaning groups are putting pressure on 60 moderate Democrats to try and pull away the 28 votes they need to avoid having the amendment attached on the House floor.  Many Pennsylvania Congressmen are likely in those targeted by these groups.  They are being told that people back home don’t care about gun rights, and that their seats are in no danger from a pro-gun backlash.

This battle over a local Second Amendment issue will have repercussions on the entire country, and will definitely effect the 2010 elections.  It is critically important that gun owners contact their members of Congress.  You can find your member here.  We must demonstrate to Congress that the threat from gun owners is real, and that we are watching what they are doing.

Action Needed on D.C. Gun Rights!