00:00If it's a child, and you see that it's a child, two o'clock in the morning, then of course in that situation, the law does not permit you to pull out your license firearm and shoot the child. That's right here.
00:16Defense Minister Wayne Sturge, as he displayed a copy of the government's home invasion, self-defense and defense of property bill 2025, also called Stand Your Ground legislation.
00:27Minister Sturge was responding to concerns raised by opposition MP and former minister of policing Keith Scotland about the bill, including the definition of a home invader.
00:38It broadly describes anyone. It could be a guest who refuses to leave. A tenant in a landlord-tenant dispute. A person entering by mistake. Even someone, Mr. Speaker, seeking shelter. This is the mischief of this bill.
01:03The bill was piloted by Attorney General John Jeremy.
01:08Regarding the defense of the person or self-defense, the occupier would have no obligation to retreat.
01:16He may stand his ground and use defensive force, including deadly force, if he genuinely believes it is necessary to prevent imminent threat, death, serious bodily harm.
01:30The Attorney General said the government will ensure that those citizens who qualify are able to get the licensed firearms commensurate with the threat to their persons, their families and their friends.
01:41Minister Sturge gave an example of the use of a firearm under the proposed legislation.
01:45The common law has always said that, in essence, one, when you are under attack, and in this case, let me go again, two o'clock in the morning, the bandit have a gun in his hand and he turned his back.
02:00Some people like to say, well, his back was turned, you shouldn't have shot him.
02:06The law has always said, and thankfully it's codified here, that you don't have to wait for him to strike first.
02:14Opposition MP and former Prime Minister Stuart Young responded directly to Minister Sturge.
02:20He is a criminal law practitioner or was, and now he is a Minister of Defense, holding a portfolio of authority to tell anybody that you can shoot a person in the back when their back is turned to you.
02:38And they are running away and shoot them before they shoot you, but shoot them in the back has to be one of the worst pieces of advice, pieces of advice that can be given to any law-abiding citizen.
02:53As the opposition made clear their objections to the bill, the government stood its ground on its legislation that creates a specific offence for home invasions.
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