The two associations are supporting representative Dennis Wood and senator Jack Goodman when they produce bills overturning the new law next legislative session.
Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis City, brought forth an amendment that garnered an outburst of laughter from lawmakers. Also quickly withdrawn after being read, it would have named Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, as the state's invertebrate. Goodman was handling the crayfish bill in the Senate for its sponsor, Rep. Dennis Wood, R-Kimberling City.
Two bills with similar proposals but without the "stand his or her ground and meet force with force" stipulation were heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon said that as one of the bill's sponsors, he deliberately left out this wording because of its controversial nature.
Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, the sponsor of one of the bills, said he believes that current laws do not allow homeowners to adequately protect themselves from intruders because they are not allowed to act preemptively against those unlawfully entering their homes.
The bill's sponsor predicted the measure, if signed by the governor, would not make Missourians more likely to use deadly force. Instead, Sen. Jack Goodman said the purpose of the bill is to restore legal protections against civil lawsuits and prosecutions that had been eroded by court decisions.
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