WV bill proposes expanding stand your ground law - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

WV bill proposes expanding stand your ground law

Posted: Updated:
  • GovernmentGovernment

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:59 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:59:52 GMT
    Credit: MountainStateUniversity.edu
    Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has announced Karen Bowling of Beckley as Cabinet Secretary of The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, starting July 1.
    Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has announced Karen Bowling of Beckley as Cabinet Secretary of The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, starting July 1.
  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:43 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:43:57 GMT
    The three locks on the upper Monongahela River will be open to recreational boaters this weekend during limited hours.
    The three locks on the upper Monongahela River will be open to recreational boaters this weekend during limited hours.
  • Monday, May 20 2013 2:50 PM EDT2013-05-20 18:50:08 GMT
    Helen Holt, now 99, was West Virginia's first female secretary of state. She received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from WVU during Sunday's commencement.
    Helen Holt, now 99, was West Virginia's first female secretary of state. She received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from WVU during Sunday's commencement.

CHARLESTON (AP) — A group of West Virginia state delegates has proposed giving residents broader leeway to use physical force to protect themselves and their property.

The bill proposed by 11 Democrats Friday would expand the state's so-called "stand your ground" law. Currently residents are allowed to use physical force to repel home intruders or any attackers.

Under the proposed bill residents also could use force to defend another person who is attacked, or to defend any piece of movable property.

The bill removes language from the current law that requires self-defense to be "proportionate" to the attack. It authorizes a person to use deadly force against someone who they believe is committing a robbery. The bill also clarifies that the current law's protections apply to both criminal and civil cases.

 

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.