LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jim Runestad on Wednesday introduced legislation to protect Michigan residents from civil lawsuits when acting in self-defense to escape a violent riot.
“Regular people should not be punished for trying to protect themselves when out-of-control, violent agitators take over cities and start burning everything to the ground,” said Runestad, R-White Lake. “Sadly, we are seeing this kind of violent unrest more and more. Just look back at the riots in Los Angeles earlier this year, when vicious far-left agitators took over entire sections of public highways, disrupting traffic and threatening commuters. If President Trump had not called in the National Guard to quell the unrest, who knows what kind of carnage could have been unleashed.”
Senate Bill 500 would extend existing self-defense criminal protections to include immunity from civil suit actions, such as property damage or personal injury.
“This new anti-riot act is necessary in the face of continued lawlessness on the streets of cities in Michigan and across the country,” Runestad said. “If violent agitators are going to continue to threaten the safety and sanctity of public life, ordinary citizens must have the right and ability to protect themselves without worrying about their lives being upended even further by frivolous lawsuits that could be brought about by mobs of criminals.”
Runestad said that while current Michigan law protects individuals from criminal proceedings when acting in self-defense, no such protection exists against civil lawsuits. That means someone acting in self-defense could be acquitted of criminal charges but still face bankruptcy due to extensive civil litigation charges years later.
“It is time rioters are made aware that their destructive actions have real consequences. By ensuring regular, peaceful people are guaranteed their rights by law to defend themselves when terrorized, violent extremists will think twice before endangering innocent individuals,” Runestad said.
