Bill that would allow residents to use deadly force who comes onto their property headed to Governor
TUCSON, ARIZ. (KVOA)- The fate of House Bill 2843 is in the Governor's hands now and more local leaders like Mayor Regina Romero are speaking out calling this controversial piece The fate of House Bill 2843, which would allow homeowners to use deadly force against trespassers on their property, is now in the Governor's hands. Local leaders, including Mayor Regina Romero, have called the bill "harmful and racist" and "unacceptable". The bill expands the state's current "Castle Doctrine," which allows property owners to kill any trespasser who breaks into their homes. It is expected to be vetoed by Governor Hobbs. While the bill does not specifically mention undocumented migrants, State Representative Justin Heap claims it was drafted to protect ranchers and farmers who often see undocumented migrants cross their property to enter the US.
Published : a month ago by Cristiana Ramos in Politics
TUCSON, ARIZ. (KVOA)- The fate of House Bill 2843 is in the Governor's hands now and more local leaders like Mayor Regina Romero are speaking out calling this controversial piece of legislation, "harmful and flat out racist."
It would allow homeowners to use deadly force against trespassers who come onto their property.
Mayor Regina Romero tweeting out, Wednesday, "Granting property owners the right to shoot trespassers, claiming self-defense, is a heartless dehumanizing act of violence. we must stand against this. it's unacceptable & must be vetoed."
The legislation expands the state's current "Castle Doctrine," law which allows Arizona property owners to shoot and kill any trespasser who breaks into their home, but under the new proposal passed by the State Senate this week
deadly force can be used to prevent a person from simply setting foot on their land.
Tucsonan Reven Francis said, "So just saying that you feel threatened and giving you that right to shoot someone just because of how you feel without
any crime being committed I feel like it's just not right they should keep the law how it is and not change it."
Mayor Regina Romero and many other claim the bill introduced by State Representative Justin Heap of Mesa is "dangerous & downright racist."
While the bill doesn't specifically mention undocumented migrants, heap told colleagues that he wrote it in an attempt to protect ranchers and farmers who often see undocumented migrants cross their property to get into the United States. Tucson resident Reed Palmer told News 4 Tucson he thinks the bill is too broad. "A warning shot fired first before you shoot someone for trespassing because it's pretty extreme to just shoot someone for trespassing on your property."
News 4 Tucson reached out to Representative Heap for an interview and are waiting to hear back.
Every Republican in the House and Senate voted yes to HB2843 and every Democrat voted no, so it's anticipated to be shot down by Governor Hobbs.
Topics: Murder