Nathan Macias - Texas State Representative District 73

Re-Elect Nathan Macias - Heart for Service, Heart for Texas

	TEXAS REPRESENTATIVE NATHAN MACIAS DISTRICT 73: Serving Bandera, Comal, Gillespie, and Kendall Counties
	For Immediate Release March 21, 2007	Contact: Adam Bell 512-463-0325

House Passes Right-to-Defend "Castle Doctrine"

Austin, TX - This morning, by a vote of 132-14, SB 378 achieved final passage in the House of Representatives after receiving unanimous support in the Senate. SB 378 was the Senate companion of HB 284; the 'Castle Doctrine' bill co-authored by Representative Nathan Macias.

First, the bills create a "presumption of reasonableness" for the use of force in response to an unlawful and forcible entry into your occupied home, vehicle, or place of business or employment. Second, the bill states that you have "no duty to retreat" from an attack if you are in a place where you have a right to be, you did not provoke your attacker, and you are not engaged in criminal activity at the time. Third, the bills protect victims from civil actions for using force authorized by law.

Macias agrees that, "It's important to guard our most fundamental right to protect ourselves and our families. This legislation has now shifted the burden of the criminal and civil justice system from the victim onto the criminal, where it belongs." SB 378 goes into effect on September 1, 2007.

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