What is this "castle doctrine"? In the broadest possible terms it means that you can take steps to defend yourself if someone breaks into your home, temporary dwelling (like a hotel room), or your car while you are present.
How is this different? The law currently in Ohio is that there is a "duty to retreat". Even if someone breaks into your house you are supposed to try and run to the corner farthest from them, if you are able, before using force. To do otherwise potentially turns an act of self defense into a crime. The burden was on the person who used deadly force that they could no longer retreat, even if a criminal had invaded a private home.
There are other aspects to the new law, and you can read about them here. The governor signed the bill into law on June 10, and it will be 90 days until it goes into effect. If I'm reading my calendar correctly, that will be on Monday, September 8, 2008.
Curtis Lowe was kind enough to send me an Email about this issue, and he has some thoughts that you might want to hear.
(Hat tip to Dave Hardy and Sebastian.)
Comments (1)
It is great that this got passed in Ohio. Here in Michigan we have had it for a bit. We have no duty to retreat anywhere we are legally allowed to be, keep trying and you'll get there too. I voted for our Democratic governor only because she signed this package of laws. I hope the gun rights people in Ohio support your current Democratic governor for what he has now done.
Posted by nelson133![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.hellinahandbasket.net/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 12, 2008 6:09 PM
Posted on June 12, 2008 18:09