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Divided public safety committee approves bill broadening self-defense rights

By Tim Walker
Brian Gosch, the state director of the National Rifle Association, testifies Feb. 26 in support of HF13 before the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Matt Bliss, left, would remove the duty to retreat before using force in self-defense or to defend another person. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)
Brian Gosch, the state director of the National Rifle Association, testifies Feb. 26 in support of HF13 before the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Matt Bliss, left, would remove the duty to retreat before using force in self-defense or to defend another person. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)

Whatever name is used, the “castle doctrine” or “stand your ground” laws specify that using deadly force in self-defense is warranted in certain circumstances.

What those exact circumstances are were debated at the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee Wednesday, which approved a bill that would allow a person to use reasonable force in self-defense “regardless of whether a reasonable possibility of retreat to avoid the danger exists.”

Currently, a person must not have had a reasonable possibility to retreat to avoid the danger before using force in self-defense.

Bill sponsor Rep. Matt Bliss (R-Pennington) said HF13 would correct what he called an erroneous July 2024 Minnesota Supreme Court decision in State v. Blevins that held that the duty to retreat applies to so-called “fear” assaults involving the threatened use of a deadly weapon in addition to physical actions to actually cause harm to another person.
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