Bill > HB192

This bill amends Alabama law regarding self-defense and the defense of others, primarily by establishing a legal presumption that a person is justified in using deadly physical force under specific circumstances, such as when another person is using or about to use unlawful deadly physical force, or is committing or attempting to commit certain serious crimes like burglary, kidnapping, or rape. It also clarifies that a person who is lawfully present and not engaged in unlawful activity has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand their ground. The bill introduces a new provision creating a rebuttable presumption that a person's use of force was not justified if they conceal, alter, destroy, or dispose of a deadly weapon after the alleged offense, unless they voluntarily provide it to law enforcement after reaching safety without undue delay. Furthermore, it outlines procedures for pretrial hearings to determine immunity from criminal prosecution and civil action for justified use of force, and clarifies that law enforcement may only arrest someone for using force if there is probable cause that the force was unlawful.