Today, the Wyoming legislature convened for its 2018 Legislative Session. As previously reported, state Senator Anthony Bouchard and state Representative Tim Salazar pre-filed Senate File 71. Please contact your state Senator and strongly urge them to support Senate File 71.
Under Senate File 71, a law-abiding citizen would have no duty to retreat from any place where the person is lawfully present before using force to defend themselves. Further, this bill would shift the burden of proof to the state, so the state would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a person charged with an offense that involved the use of force against another, did not use that force in self-defense.
It is unreasonable that victims of crime should have to worry about being arrested or prosecuted if they are required to use force to defend themselves or their family. This legislation also provides protection from civil liability and frivolous lawsuits brought against individuals who have used reasonable defensive force to protect themselves or others.
Again, please contact your state Senator and strongly urge them to support Senate File 71.