HB263 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Lynn Greer

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Churches, self-defense and defense of others in cases of murder and other serious crimes, provided for

Summary

The bill would allow deadly force in self-defense on church premises during church activities and provide legal protections for the defender.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Alabama Church Protection Act and defines church premises as church buildings and property used for worship or church programs, excluding private homes. It allows a person on church premises during worship, meetings, events, or programs to use deadly force in self-defense or to defend others if they reasonably believe unlawful deadly force is about to be used against someone lawfully present, with a legal presumption of justification. It applies the same justifications, defenses, and immunities as existing self-defense law and uses the same pretrial immunity hearing process, and it lets a person act to prevent unlawful deadly force rather than waiting for it to occur. The act is supplemental to current law and does not narrow existing protections.

Who It Affects

• People who are physically on church premises during worship services, meetings, events, or programs
• Churches, church staff, volunteers, and congregations that host or participate in church activities on church property

Key Provisions

• Defines CHURCH and PREMISES OF A CHURCH, specifying that premises include church buildings and property but not private dwellings
• Provides that a person may use deadly physical force in self-defense or defense of another on church premises during church-sanctioned activities if they reasonably believe unlawful deadly force is being used or about to be used against someone lawfully present
• Creates a legal presumption of justification and applies the same justifications, defenses, immunities, and pretrial immunity hearing procedures as Section 13A-3-23, Code of Alabama 1975
• Allows acting to prevent unlawful deadly force without waiting for it to occur and clarifies that the protections are supplemental to existing law and do not limit other protections
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and approval

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Churches