STATEHOUSE (Feb. 5, 2019) — The House Judiciary Committee voted in support of State Rep. Jim Lucas’s (R-Seymour) bill that would provide legal protections for Hoosiers acting in self-defense.
Lucas said, under current law, anyone who uses justifiable force to protect themselves, their property or others around them are protected from criminal penalties but not civil. This means a criminal, or their surviving family members, have the option to file a civil lawsuit.
“Every Hoosier should have the ability and choice to protect themselves against someone attempting to fatally harm them or someone around them,” Lucas said. “Self-defense is a right, and citizens should not have to fear penalization for exercising it.”
According to Lucas, this legislation would protect those acting in self-defense from having to undergo a costly, tenuous civil lawsuit if their means of force is justified. It would grant immunity to a person forced to use justifiable self-defense from having a civil lawsuit filed against them.
House Bill 1284 can now be considered by the full House of Representatives. Visit iga.in.gov for more information.
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State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) represents House District 69, which includes
portions of Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings and Jefferson counties.
Click here for a high-resolution photo.
