Bill > HB694

This bill amends Alabama law regarding self-defense, specifically Section 13A-3-23, to clarify when the use of physical force, including deadly physical force, is not justified. The key change is the addition of a provision stating that a person is not justified in using physical force if they initially pursued another person engaged in a lawful activity in a public place, and that pursuit led to a confrontation where force was used against the person who was initially pursued. This means that if someone starts a chase and then claims self-defense after the person they chased fights back, that self-defense claim may not be valid. The bill also reiterates existing justifications for using force, such as defending oneself or another from unlawful physical force, and outlines specific circumstances where deadly physical force is presumed justified, like during a burglary or kidnapping, with certain exceptions. It also confirms the "stand your ground" principle, meaning individuals have no duty to retreat if they are lawfully present and not engaged in unlawful activity.