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Feb. 14, 2022Jefferson City, Mo. |  By: AP

Missouri bill criticized as 'Make Murder Legal Act' blocked

gavel

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A bill that one local prosecutor dubbed the "Make Murder Legal Act" has failed to advance in the GOP-led Missouri Legislature. A Senate committee blocked the bill Thursday.

The measure would have given shooters the benefit of the doubt that they acted in self-defense. It would have required police to find probable cause that the shooter acted unlawfully before arresting them.

Prosecutors and other law enforcement groups had warned that the change would be a significant hurdle in arresting and prosecuting violent criminals.

Backers had argued it would have strengthened self-defense laws and shielded victims from having to defend their actions in court.