To: The Alaska State House, The Alaska State Senate, and Governor Mike Dunleavy
Repeal HB 24 - Stand Your Ground Law
House Bill 24 ("stand your ground") needs immediate repeal, because the law is vague and extremely easy for the public to misinterpret. What do you expect when you approach someone and, depending on the other person's perception of the situation, they feel threatened? It encourages armed individuals to confront others, knowing that they could legally use a firearm if they felt "threatened."
Why is this important?
HB 24 suggests the encouragement of armed individuals to confront others knowing that they could legally use a firearm if they felt "threatened." The word threatened means many things to many people that adds to the vagueness of this law which can be extremely easy for misinterpretation by the public. Eliminating the duty to retreat (other than is someone is on their own property) will cause more violence than the law intends to prevent.