PRINTER'S NO. 1629
No. 1372 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY BITTLE AND SHUMAN, JUNE 21, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 21, 1977
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, making self-defense an affirmative
3 defense.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 505 of Title 18, act of November 25, 1970
7 (P.L.707, No.230), known as the Pennsylvania Consolidated
8 Statutes, is amended by adding a subsection to read:
9 § 505. Use of force in self-protection.
10 * * *
11 (d) Self-defense an affirmative defense.--The use of force
12 in self-protection under this section is a defense if the
13 defendant being prosecuted proves by a preponderance of the
14 evidence that the force with which he protected himself from
15 another was necessary and justifiable.
16 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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