A bill slowly making its way through the state Legislature would make it legal for Wisconsin residents to use deadly force if necessary to protect their homes.
Under current law, someone could break into a home, and if the intruder was injured in the act, the perpetrator could sue the homeowner, said Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink, D-Milladore.
At a Marshfield listening session this week, one of Vruwinks constituents said he had grave concerns about the way the legislation is written and the potential for abuse.
A bill to allow what is commonly called a Castle Doctrine has been introduced a number of times but failed to become law.
This time, the bill was crafted by a bipartisan committee which included a former judge, Vruwink said.
They went through it very closely, she said.
Basically, the bill changes Wisconsin law so that when confronted with a person breaking into ones home, a person has no duty to retreat in their home. If this were to happen on the street, you would have the duty to retreat, Vruwink said.
Marshfield Police Chief Gary Jepson said he agrees with the concept that a home is a persons castle, but deadly force might not be necessary to protect it.
There are so many what ifs with this, Jepson said. What if someone breaks into your home and you fear for the safety of your children and use a hammer to incapacitate the person and now they are unconscious. You cant use a hammer and beat them until they are lifeless. ... Or someone had too much to drink, drives to what he thinks is his house but the door wont open so he breaks in. If a person really thought it was a serious danger, then they have a right to protect themselves.
Read the full story in tomorrow's Wausau Daily Herald online and in print.