State Senator Tarr is behind this bill and urging others to get this passed. Here is his letter filed on Tuesday.
Please call your legislators in support of this bill. Contact info here
November 3, 2009
Senator Cynthia Stone Creem, Chairwoman
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Room 416-B, State House
Boston, MA 02133
Representative Eugene L. O’Flaherty, Chairman
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Room 136, State House
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Chairwoman Creem and Chairman O’Flaherty,
We are writing today in support of S. 1580, “An Act Relative to the Common Defense”. This bill, which received its public hearing on October 27th, would provide needed legal protection to those who act in defense of themselves and others in response to a potentially lethal situation.
From the recent events occurring at a Massachusetts General Hospital building last week, it is clear that the use of a firearm to protect the safety of others is regrettably sometimes necessary. Current Massachusetts law, however, does not explicitly protect the right of citizens to act in the defense of others when they are at risk of great personal injury or death. This omission risks jeopardizing those who would prevent harm from occurring by subjecting them to criminal and civil liability for taking action to defend the lives of others. S. 1580 would provide explicit protection for those who use force, including deadly force, to protect themselves or others from great personal injury or death, so long as the belief that the danger that existed was reasonable and that the actor was entitled to be in that place where action was taken.
Failing to pass S. 1580 will perpetrate the unacceptable situation of allowing an individual who bravely acts to defend others from a lethal threat to be subjected to substantial penalties. Our obligation to promote public safety demands that this situation be corrected.
We therefore request that the Joint Committee on the Judiciary report S. 1580 favorably as soon as possible. Thank you for your consideration of this request, and please do not hesitate to contact us if we may be of any further assistance.
Sincerely,
Bruce Tarr
State Senator
