House Bill 236, “Castle Doctrine” legislation, sponsored by Representative J.R. Gray (D-6), passed the full House on Friday, February 24, by a vote of 84 to 4. This legislation, modeled after legislation passed last year in Florida, specifies that a citizen is presumed to be acting lawfully if he or she uses force, including lethal force, to repel a person unlawfully and forcibly entering the citizen's residence or occupied motor vehicle. It also codifies a decision from the Kentucky Court of Appeals that states that a citizen is not required to retreat prior to meeting force with force. Please contact your State Senator and ask him or her to support HB 236, and oppose all amendments.
In addition, SB 38, the Castle Doctrine sponsored by Senator Richard Roeding (R-11), passed the full Senate by a vote of 36-2. Please call your Representative at and ask that they support SB 38 in the House.
Also, SB 12 is stalled in the Senate! Sponsored by Senator Katie Kratz Stine (R-24), this legislation is still in the Senate and must move very soon in order to have a chance to pass the Legislature this session. SB 12 prohibits the prosecution of gun owners who unknowingly wander onto property owned or used by a public or private school if it is not properly posted pursuant to current law. There are many properties in Kentucky that no reasonable citizen could be expected to know are owned or used by schools. Incredibly, pursuant to current statute, gun owners may still be prosecuted for a felony offense when possessing a firearm on the property even if the school ignores the existing posting requirement.
Opponents of this common sense, due process legislation have successfully stalled it in the Senate. Your Senator must hear from you as soon as possible! Please call your State Senator and ask him or her to help to ensure that this bill is made a legislative priority.
All members of the Kentucky General Assembly can be reached at (502) 564-8100.
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