n From the Hickory Daily Record, July 15

The right to defend oneself from an imminent act of harm should not only be clearly defined in North Carolina law, but it is intuitive to human nature. You ought to be able to protect yourself, especially in your own home.

A bill awaiting a vote in the General Assembly, if approved, would clearly define the use of deadly force using the “castle doctrine” for the basis of the law. This doctrine holds that in one’s home (castle), one can legally use deadly force against any unlawful intruder.

Homeowners and property owners should have the legal right to protect themselves and their property from a person who chooses to break the law by illegally entering someone’s house or attempting to steal someone’s property.

During such criminal acts, homeowners have no way of knowing if an intruder merely wants to steal a television or commit a much more heinous crime. Homeowners shouldn’t have to make that split-second decision.

Night conditions make it nearly impossible to determine the intent of the intruder. Use of lethal force in this situation is warranted. In daylight conditions, it becomes easier to read body language and to see if the intruder is armed. However, even unarmed intruders can intend harm, making intention almost impossible to guess.

This bill will establish that anyone breaking into a home will now be considered to intend harm. By defining home invasion this way, the law will establish that criminals breaking into homes will understand that their intentions will be assumed as violent and will be met with lethal force. This properly places the burden on the criminal.

It should be stressed that this bill does not require deadly force. Rather, it clarifies the law in regard to intent, and makes the principles of deadly force easier to apply.

At least 15 states have already adopted the “castle doctrine” in recent years.

This legislation ensures law-abiding North Carolinians will not be punished when they use force to defend themselves and their families in their own home or vehicle. It protects residents when they defend themselves from attack and establishes beyond doubt that homeowners are not obligated to retreat.

We urge the General Assembly to approve this legislation to protect our Second Amendment rights and make sure the law is clearly understood.