Vetoed by Governor Ed Rendell

Full Bill Text
Veto Letter

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows for self-protection with a firearm.

Highlights:

-Defines a "residence" as "a dwelling in which a person resides, either temporarily or permanently, or visits as an invited guest" (Sec. 1). -Defines "perpetrator" as "a person against whom an actor is justified in using force" (Sec. 9). -Requires the following conditions to exist in order for an individual to believe that deadly force is required to protect themselves (Sec. 2):

-If the perpetrator has either unlawfully entered or is entering the residence of the individual, or if the perpetrator is attempting to forcibly remove another person from the individual's residence; or -If the individual knows or believes that the unlawful entry or act either has occurred or is occurring.

-Authorizes an individual who is not engaged in criminal activity, and is attacked in a place where they do not have the ability to retreat to safety, to use deadly force if (Sec. 2):

-The individual has a right to be in the place that he or she was attacked; -The individual believes that he or she is under the threat of death, serious injury, kidnapping, or rape; and -The perpetrator displays or uses a firearm, or any other weapon capable of lethal use.

-Defines "theft" as a first-degree felony if "the property received, retained or disposed of is a firearm and the receiver is in the business of buying or selling stolen property" (Sec. 4). -Provides immunity from civil liabilities for individuals who use force in the following conditions (Sec. 9):

-In self-protection; -In protection of other persons; -In protection of property; -In law enforcement; or -In line with the individual's responsibility for the care, discipline, or safety of others.

-Defines "habitual locales" as a place where a transient can be located, including places the transient frequents during the day and night (Sec. 11). -Defines "transient" as a person who does not have a residence and is present in Pennsylvania for seven or more consecutive days (Sec. 11). -Requires sexually violent predators who are defined as transients to (Sec. 13):

-Register, update, and verify their habitual locales; and -Appear every 30 days at an approved registration site to complete forms required by the Pennsylvania State Police, to update or verify registration information, and to be photographed at the discretion of the approved registration site.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows for self-protection with a firearm.

Highlights:

-Defines a "residence" as "a dwelling in which a person resides, either temporarily or permanently, or visits as an invited guest" (Sec. 1). -Defines "perpetrator" as "a person against whom an actor is justified in using force" (Sec. 9). -Requires the following conditions to exist in order for an individual to believe that deadly force is required to protect themselves (Sec. 2):

-If the perpetrator has either unlawfully entered or is entering the residence of the individual, or if the perpetrator is attempting to forcibly remove another person from the individual's residence; or -If the individual knows or believes that the unlawful entry or act either has occurred or is occurring.

-Authorizes an individual who is not engaged in criminal activity, and is attacked in a place where they do not have the ability to retreat to safety, to use deadly force if (Sec. 2):

-The individual has a right to be in the place that he or she was attacked; -The individual believes that he or she is under the threat of death, serious injury, kidnapping, or rape; and -The perpetrator displays or uses a firearm, or any other weapon capable of lethal use.

-Defines "theft" as a first-degree felony if "the property received, retained or disposed of is a firearm and the receiver is in the business of buying or selling stolen property" (Sec. 4). -Provides immunity from civil liabilities for individuals who use force in the following conditions (Sec. 9):

-In self-protection; -In protection of other persons; -In protection of property; -In law enforcement; or -In line with the individual's responsibility for the care, discipline, or safety of others.

-Defines "habitual locales" as a place where a transient can be located, including places the transient frequents during the day and night (Sec. 11). -Defines "transient" as a person who does not have a residence and is present in Pennsylvania for seven or more consecutive days (Sec. 11). -Requires sexually violent predators who are defined as transients to (Sec. 13):

-Register, update, and verify their habitual locales; and -Appear every 30 days at an approved registration site to complete forms required by the Pennsylvania State Police, to update or verify registration information, and to be photographed at the discretion of the approved registration site.

Full Bill Text