The Missouri House has approved a bill that would extend the castle doctrine to houseguests.
Representative Joe Don McGaugh (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications – feature image courtesy; UPI/Bill Greenblatt)
Missouri homeowners have a legal defense for using deadly force against intruders. Representative Jo Don McGaugh (R-Carrollton) proposes extending that to guests in a home as well.
“What this bill does is a common-sense expansion to say if I’m not the owner of that property but I’ve been given the authority of that property owner to protect my family and my property, that they can act in the same manner as what the public policy of the State of Missouri is now,” McGaugh said during House debate.
Representative Jeremy LaFaver (D-Kansas City) said he was alright with a different provision of the bill, but said he’s concerned expanding the castle doctrine will only lead to, “more dead people.”
“Increasing guns and increasing people with guns who are ready to defend; perhaps appropriately, perhaps not, I worry about that,” said LaFaver.
The bill would also allow municipal or county prosecuting attorneys and municipal, associate circuit or circuit judges who have completed required training to carry firearms in courtrooms and exempt them from other firearms violations, and would allow an individual to take some required firearms safety training online.
The bill, HB 122, Â goes to the Senate for consideration.
