Self defense; justification of use of physical force against intruders if occupant of dwelling. (HB829)

Introduced By

Del. John Welch (R-Virginia Beach) with support from 51 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Watkins Abbitt (I-Appomattox), Del. Dave Albo (R-Springfield), Del. Clay Athey (R-Front Royal), Del. Kathy Byron (R-Lynchburg), Del. Vince Callahan (R-McLean), Del. Ben Cline (R-Amherst), Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg), Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), Del. Anne Crockett-Stark (R-Wytheville), Del. Allen Dudley (R-Rocky Mount), Del. Bill Fralin (R-Roanoke), Del. Jeff Frederick (R-Woodbridge), Del. Tom Gear (R-Hampton), Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock), Del. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), Del. Phil Hamilton (R-Newport News), Del. Clarke Hogan (R-South Boston), Del. Tim Hugo (R-Centreville), Del. Sal Iaquinto (R-Virginia Beach), Del. Riley Ingram (R-Hopewell), Del. Bill Janis (R-Glen Allen), Del. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk), Del. Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City), Del. Steve Landes (R-Weyers Cave), Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge), Del. Matt Lohr (R-Harrisonburg), Del. Bob Marshall (R-Manassas), Del. Danny Marshall (R-Danville), Del. Joe May (R-Leesburg), Del. Michele McQuigg (R-Occoquan), Del. Harvey Morgan (R-Gloucester), Del. Sam Nixon (R-Richmond), Del. Glenn Oder (R-Newport News), Del. Bobby Orrock (R-Thornburg), Del. John O'Bannon (R-Richmond), Del. Chris Peace (R-Mechanicsville), Del. Bob Purkey (R-Virginia Beach), Del. Lacey Putney (I-Bedford), Del. Melanie Rapp (R-Yorktown), Del. Jack Reid (R-Richmond), Del. Tom Rust (R-Herndon), Del. Chris Saxman (R-Staunton), Del. Ed Scott (R-Culpeper), Del. Beverly Sherwood (R-Winchester), Del. Bob Tata (R-Virginia Beach), Del. Leo Wardrup (R-Virginia Beach), Del. Lee Ware (R-Powhatan), Del. Rob Wittman (R-Montross), Del. Tommy Wright (R-Victoria), Sen. Bill Carrico (R-Grayson), Sen. John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Self defense and defense of others. Provides that any person who lawfully occupies a dwelling is justified in using any degree of physical force, including deadly physical force, against another person when the other person has unlawfully entered the dwelling, has committed an overt act toward the occupant or another person in the dwelling, and the occupant reasonably believes he or another person in the dwelling is in imminent danger of bodily harm. The bill also provides that a person who uses justifiable force against an intruder shall be immune from civil liability for injuries or death of the other person. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/10/2006Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/06 064125552
01/10/2006Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/18/2006Assigned to Courts of Justice sub-committee: Criminal Law
02/10/2006Reported from Courts of Justice (13-Y 9-N)
02/11/2006Read first time
02/13/2006Read second time and engrossed
02/14/2006Read third time and passed House (81-Y 19-N)
02/14/2006VOTE: PASSAGE (81-Y 19-N)
02/14/2006Communicated to Senate
02/15/2006Constitutional reading dispensed
02/15/2006Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/27/2006Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (11-Y 4-N)