Indiana House approves bill covering police entering homes | POLL
The measure would overturn last year’s Indiana Supreme Court decision. The court ruled that homeowners do not have the right to use force against law enforcement officials who they believe are illegally entering their homes.
That decision came in the case of Richard Barnes, 57, (not Richard Barnes Jr., 38, who was sentenced to prison in 2010 in an unrelated case, or the Rev. Richard Barnes of Evansville) an Evansville man who filed a lawsuit against police who followed him into his house while they were responding to a domestic dispute Barnes had with his wife.
Proponents said the measure provides police with additional legal protection, while affirming the “Castle Doctrine” idea that homeowners have the right to resist anyone, including police, who invades their homes.
In a rare appearance off the rostrum and on the House floor, Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, urged the chamber to approve Senate Bill 1.
“What we’re doing here is we’re writing a jury instruction. We’re writing an appellate standard to see who’s responsible; who has a defense,” he said.
“What this says is when it does get to the courts and the courts have to sort out who’s right, who’s wrong, this clarifies that we’re back to the same standard we had in this county, in this state, for more than 200 years.”
Other members were more forceful about the measure’s impact.
Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis, said the measure would help Hoosiers who would otherwise “lose freedom” to “the coercive power of government.” He said without action, police officers who kill citizens in their own homes would be protected.
“We can’t kid ourselves – it is as powerful as ever, and without undoing the Barnes decision, it has crept into our home in a way that is wildly unpopular in our communities,” he said.
Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, said the measure protects Hoosiers from “rogue cops,” but said he thinks there will be few instances when police improperly enter homes, or where Hoosiers use force against police officers because of the measure.
“I admit that the number of times that is going to happen in our state is going to be infinitesimally small,” he said. “I’m not concerned that we’re going to suddenly have meth-heads sitting in their La-Z-Boy with their shotgun and SB 1 in their hand.”
Pierce, one of the House’s most liberal members, drew laughter when he said it felt uncomfortable to be casting a vote that the National Rifle Association’s lobbyist approved of.
Rep. Mike White, D-Muncie, said he could not vote for the measure and then return to his district and look police officers in the eye.
“Even though I know that factually, this is probably the right thing to do, sometimes law isn’t about fact – sometimes it’s about perception, and it’s that perception that I fear,” he said.
Rep. Craig Fry, D-South Bend, said the bill “is going to cause people to die.”
“And it’s too late after somebody dies for a jury to sort it out. Somebody’s going to die, whether it’s a police officer or an individual who thinks a police officer is entering their home unlawfully. People are going to die,” he said.
Rep. Linda Lawson, a Hammond Democrat who has worked as a police officer and has trained other law enforcement officials, said she believes the measure would create an “open season on law enforcement.”
She said the measure is opposed by “1,250 state police officers and 14,000 men and women in blue, brown and green.”
The bill now returns to the Senate. That chamber could approve it in the form that passed the House, or the House and Senate could have a joint committee try to hash out the differences before sending it back to both chambers for final approval.
Ind. lawmakers back bill that OKs force against police officers.
The Indiana House voted 74-24 in favor of the 'right to resist' measure..
The Indy Channel
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana House has approved a bill laying out when people are justified in using force against police officers.
The House voted 74-24 Thursday in favor of the bill that's a response to the public uproar over a state Supreme Court ruling that residents could not resist officers even during an illegal entry.
The measure specifies residents are protected by the state's self-defense law if they reasonably believe force is necessary to protect themselves from unlawful actions by an officer.
Supporters said the proposal strengthens the rights of homeowners while also making clear that anyone who is committing a crime isn't justified in using force against an officer.
"There are citizens of this state who understand … that they need to be protected," said Rep. Jud McMillin, R-Brookville.
Opponents argued the Legislature shouldn't give people justification for attacking officers.
"Fifteen thousand disagree with this bill. The men and women that are guarding the streets that you live on right now while you're sitting here, they disagree with this bill," said Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, a retired police captain.
The House and Senate must still agree on a final version.
Reprinted with permission from The Indy Channel
