BISMARCK With little objection from those following the bill, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday gave a modified "shoot the burglar" bill a unanimous do-pass and sent it to the full Senate.
The Senate's House Bill 1319 is little changed from the proposal that sponsors and law enforcement officials agreed last week was a worthy compromise. But it is quite different from the version the House passed Feb. 12, which had caused an outcry from prosecutors and law officers.
As passed by the House, critics said, the bill would have changed state law to allow "offensive shooting" and the current bill is not so sweeping.
Sponsors want the bill to clarify rights they say are not currently in state law so people have the explicit right to defend their homes, businesses or motor homes from intruders without fear of prosecution or lawsuits by the intruder for using deadly force.
Sen. Stan Lyson, R-Williston, said the changes made from the House version also now back off from total or absolute immunity from liability for the defensive shooter. He said an earlier version gave the defender immunity from all responsibility even if he shot at an intruder and hit an innocent bystander outside the home or business.
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At Wednesday's deliberations, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, which supported the bill both before and after the changes, said the bill was agreeable, as did Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Cynthia Feland.
The amendments should be ready to vote on in the full Senate later this week.
