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House panel clears bill to remove duty-to-retreat language after prolonged debate and failed amendments
Summary
After hours of testimony from gun-rights and gun-safety advocates, the House Public Safety Committee voted to re‑refer House File 13 — which would remove a judicially expanded duty to retreat — to the general register; two related amendments on safe storage and lost-or-stolen reporting failed on roll calls.
The House Public Safety Committee on Feb. 26 voted to re‑refer House File 13 to the general register after extensive testimony and debate over Minnesota’s self‑defense standard and a recent state Supreme Court decision.
House File 13, introduced by Representative Brad Bliss, would amend Minnesota’s self‑defense statute to make clear that a person “may use reasonable force under circumstances described in paragraph A, clause 3, regardless of the reasonability [sic] of possibility of retreat to avoid danger exists.” Bliss and supporters said the change is intended to reverse a high‑court interpretation they described as imposing a duty to retreat before using nonlethal force.
Supporters included pro‑gun…
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