Bill > HB1374

This bill modifies Missouri's self-defense law by expanding the circumstances under which a person can use physical and deadly force for protection. The bill allows individuals to use physical force when they reasonably believe it is necessary to defend themselves or a third person from unlawful force, with some exceptions such as if the person was the initial aggressor. For deadly force, the law now permits its use when a person reasonably believes it is necessary to protect against death, serious physical injury, or a forcible felony. Notably, the bill expands the locations where deadly force can be used to include places of employment and retail establishments, in addition to dwellings, residences, and vehicles. The bill also explicitly states that individuals have no duty to retreat from these locations or from private property they own or lease. Furthermore, the bill shifts the burden of proof in certain self-defense scenarios, requiring the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not reasonably believe force was necessary for protection. The law maintains provisions that require any force used to be reasonable and proportional to the perceived threat.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1374&year=2025&code=R