ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)—
Gun owners and home owners said a change in the state's Castle Doctrine laws will lead to less confusion during a potentially deadly situation like a home invasion.
The latest changes take effect on Thursday. Randy Jones with the Alamance County Sheriff's Office said the biggest change in the law is that gun owners can now defend themselves in their cars and businesses, along with their homes.
The law change also gives gun owners the option not to retreat from an attacker.
"I think it's the American way that you should be able to defend your property--of course, under certain circumstances," Jones said.
"Now the law's on your side, when it felt like, before, the criminal had more rights in your house than you did," said Kenny Abbe, homeowner and gun owner.
The law change also removes civil liability in the case of a justified self-defense shooting. Abbe said he's happy with that change because home invaders were winning civil suits.
"I think the justice system is doing civilians and law-abiding citizens a justice by not turning criminals into millionaires. Now we have more legs to stand on," Abbe said.
Even with these changes, Abbe said defending one's property by firing a gun will still be tricky, no matter what the law says.
"Using deadly force is always a last resort. What we always say is, 'There are no winners in a gunfight,'" Abbe said.
Gun owners at Calibers in Greensboro said the law change won't keep shooters from being arrested even if they feel threatened and the shooting is justified. However, it will give those shooters a better chance of being on the right side of the law when the judicial process is over.
