Defense doctrine

State lawmakers have approved legislation to expand the Castle Doctrine to widen the laws surrounding self defense. Reporter Lizz Fiedler talked to Kathy McDonnell from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office for her take on the bill, which is headed for Rendell’s desk.

 

“It’s a solution looking for a problem, ” McDonnell said of the Castle Doctrine expansion. “We already have a Castle Doctrine in Pennsylvania.  A person can defend themselves in their home.  What this bill does is basically create what I call the Dr. Seuss defense where you can shoot ’em in your car, you can shoot ’em on your roof, you can shoot ’em on the porch, you can shoot ’em just about anywhere, if you have a legal right to be there.”

McDonnell also serves as the legislative liasion for the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association, which represents all district attorneys in the state.

Lizz will have the full story later.