Fairfax, VA— The Texas State Legislature is poised and ready to consider National Rifle Association (NRA)-backed "Castle Doctrine" legislation in the upcoming legislative session, now that two Texas state legislators have filed the self-defense law reform bills.
“We are pleased to see the Lone Star State get ready to discuss ‘Castle Doctrine’ self-defense protections for the good people of Texas,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. “It is fundamental that honest, law-abiding citizens know the law is on their side if ever they are faced with danger from criminal attack.”
Senator Jeff Wentworth (TX-25) has filed SB 378 with 27 co-authors and Representative Joe Driver (TX-113) filed HB 284 with 100 co-authors, which would make key changes to the Texas Penal Code and Civil Practices & Remedies Code. The proposed reforms of Texas’ self-defense laws would accomplish three things:
- The bill would establish, in law, the presumption that a criminal who unlawfully enters or intrudes into your home, occupied vehicle, or place of business or employment is there to cause death or great bodily harm, and you may therefore use any manner of force, including deadly force, against that person.
- The bill would explicitly state in law that you have no “duty to retreat” if you are attacked in a place where you have a right to be present, if you are not the original aggressor, and if you are not engaged in criminal activity.
- The bill would protect persons using force authorized by law from lawsuits filed by injured criminal attackers or their families.
“On behalf of our NRA members in the great State of Texas, I want to thank Senator Wentworth and Representative Driver for their leadership in introducing this vital legislation,” concluded Cox. “We look forward to working with the Texas Legislature this upcoming session to pass ‘Castle Doctrine’ into law.”
Since Florida passed the first “Castle Doctrine” bill in 2005, 15 other states have followed suit.
-NRA-
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.