House Bill 137, introduced by State Representative Lorraine Quarberg (R-28), known as the “no-duty-to-retreat” (Castle Doctrine) bill, was debated on the Senate Floor today for the second time and was heavily amended to remove the “no-duty-to-retreat” provision.
As originally written, HB137 would have statutorily ensured that Wyoming citizens’ self-defense rights would be protected by removing the duty to retreat. The offending amendment, introduced by State Senator Charles Scott (R-30), was given the green light by his fellow Senators after being heavily lobbied by the state prosecutors and county attorneys who believe that it should be up to the courts to determine how and when an individual should protect themselves.
Despite efforts from State Senator Cale Case (R-25) to tweak the No-Duty-To-Retreat language to benefit law-abiding citizens through a “friendly” amendment, there were those that spoke in opposition to the original language of HB 137. State Senators Charles Scott (R-30), John Hastert (D-13), Kathryn Sessions (D-7), and Bob Fecht (R-5) all spoke on behalf of the opposition, and were able to get the language removed.
Those that opposed the “friendly” amendment proposed by State Senator Case, were State Senators Phil Nicholas (R-10), Michael Von Flatern (R-24), Bruce Burns (R-21), and Tony Ross (R-4).
The measure will receive one more floor vote in a Third Reading tomorrow, where our pro-gun friends in the Senate will attempt one more time to present an amendment for a vote that will replace the language that was stripped out in today’s hearing.
This is the time for NRA members to make known their support for the protection of their right to self-defense. Please contact your State Senator and insist that they show political courage and vote to restore the No Duty to Retreat provision in House Bill 137. To contact your State Senator please click here.
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