Castle Doctrine in Pennsylvania

It looks like the House Judiciary Committee will be considering the castle doctrine legislation next Thursday, the 19th of November. The NRA is asking people to contact the members of the judiciary committee to support the measure.

The actual House Bill is HB40. Look over it, it’s a pretty standard type bill. The major provisions are:

• Eliminates the duty to retreat within one’s home, including attached structures like porches, decks and patios. Exception for people who are using their property to further a criminal activity, so if someone is running a grow operation, and shoots someone breaking in to steal some pot, they can’t claim castle doctrine. Also applies to vehicles, including non-motorized vehicles.
• Eliminates the duty to retreat on the streets provided you are in fear of grave bodily injury or harm, and provided you are not engaged in criminal activity. Criminal activity is this instance is narrowly defined as to not include things like spitting on the sidewalk. If you’re a drug dealer, you won’t be able to claim castle doctrine if you end up in a gunfight with a rival.
• 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. This means you only need one range bag, provided it has a place to secure the magazines.
• Provides for 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. There is no civil liability immunity if you accidentally hit a bystander, so this is not absolute.

To there you have it. Contact the representatives below, especially if you live in one of their districts. No doubt there will be a lot of huffing and puffing by politicians, interest groups, and the media about the world will end if this passes. Many of them will never read the bill, or just have an agenda. But I have read it, and will continue to report.

If you aren’t sure who your representative is, please search here. Call, e-mail, tweet, or even leave a note on their Facebook walls – just make sure your voice is heard!

State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D-127) – (717) 787-3525 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Deberah Kula (D-52) – (717) 772-1858 or e-mail her here

State Rep. Kathy Manderino (D-194) – (717) 787-1254 or e-mail her here

State Rep. John Pallone (D-54) – (717) 783-1819 or e-mail him here
Find Rep. Pallone on Facebook!

State Rep. Don Walko (D-20) – (717) 787-5470 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Joseph Brennan (D-133) – (717) 772-9902 or e-mail him here

State Rep. James Casorio (D-56) – (717) 783-3483 or e-mail him here
Send @RepCasorio a message on Twitter!

State Rep. Paul Drucker (D-157) – (717) 705-2003 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Bryan Lentz (D-161) – (717) 787-8574 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Joseph Petrarca (D-55) – (717) 787-5142 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Josh Shapiro (D-153) – (717) 783-7619 or e-mail him here
Follow @josh_shapiro on Twitter! Find Rep. Shapiro on Facebook & follow his Facebook group.

State Rep. Greg Vitali (D-166) – (717) 787-7647 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Chelsa Wagner (D-22) – (717) 783-1582 or e-mail her here

State Rep. Ronald Waters (D-191) – (717) 772-9850 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Jesse White (D-46) – (717) 783-6437 or e-mail him here
Follow @jessewhite46 on Twitter and find Rep. White on Facebook!

State Rep. Ron Marsico (R-105) – (717) 783-2014 or e-mail him here
Find Rep. Marsico on Facebook!

State Rep. Mike Vereb (R-150) – (717) 705-7164 or e-mail him here
Follow @RepVereb on Twitter! Also find him on Facebook here and here, and check out his pages here and here.

State Rep. Tom Creighton (R-37) – (717) 772-5290 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Will Gabig (R-199) – (717) 772-2280 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-8) – (717) 783-6438 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Glen Grell (R-87) – (717) 783-2063 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Kate Harper (R-61) – (717) 787-2801 or e-mail here here
Find Rep. Harper on Facebook!

State Rep. Tim Krieger (R-57) – (717) 260-6146 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Bernie O’Neill (R-29) – (717) 705-7170 or e-mail him here
Find Rep. O’Neill on Facebook or join his group!

State Rep. Todd Rock (R-90) – (717) 783-5218 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Katie True (R-41) – (717) 705-7161 or e-mail her here