Firearm Liability Insurance

The Policies we at The Lyman Agency, LLC represent protect your lawful right to protect and defend your property and persons.

 

As a gun owner, you take your second amendment right seriously and have done those things necessary to prepare you to properly and lawfully handle the chance circumstance where you may have to protect and defend your family and home. Connecticut is a “Castle State”; therefore, your home is your castle and you legally have the right to protect and defend it. However, Connecticut does not have a “Stand your ground” law, meaning you need to take all meaningful steps to retreat before using lethal force. The firearm liability insurance policies we offer contain language that protects you in the event that you have to lawfully and legally use your firearm for self defense.

 

All policies contain an exclusion for intentional and malicious acts of an insured. The policies we represent have the following language endorsement:

  1. “However, this exclusion does not apply to bodily injury, property damage or medical expenses that arise out of reasonable use of force to protect people and property.”
  2. “This exclusion shall not apply to an act arising out of any insured’s use of lawful force to protect persons or property.

In the past couple of years, we have all seen cases where lawful individuals have been forced to protect themselves and their families. It is important that your homeowners or farm policy stand with you after such a lawful occurrence. We at The Lyman Agency have you covered in the rare case you find yourself in this situation.

Why You Need Firearm Liability Insurance

Know The Law:

The following is directly from Connecticut’s Website

Connecticut laws/regulations; Other States laws/regulations; Court Cases;

April 24, 20122012-R-0172
THE CASTLE DOCTRINE AND STAND-YOUR-GROUND LAW
By: Mark Randall, Research Fellow

Hendrik DeBoer, Research Fellow

This report provides background information on the Castle Doctrine and stand-your-ground laws.

SUMMARY

The Castle Doctrine and “stand-your-ground” laws are affirmative defenses for individuals charged with criminal homicide. The Castle Doctrine is a common law doctrine stating that an individual has no duty to retreat when in his or her home, or “castle,” and may use reasonable force, including deadly force, to defend his or her property, person, or another. Outside of the “castle,” however, an individual has a duty to retreat, if able to do so, before using reasonable force. Stand-your-ground laws, by comparison, remove the common law requirement to retreat outside of one’s “castle,” allowing an individual to use force in self-defense when there is reasonable belief of a threat. Deadly force is reasonable under stand-your-ground laws in certain circumstances, such as imminent great bodily harm or death.

Forty-six states, including Connecticut, have incorporated the Castle Doctrine into law. Connecticut law justifies the use of reasonable physical force, including deadly force, in defense of premises. Connecticut courts have recognized the common law privilege to challenge an unlawful entry into one’s home, to the extent that a person’s conduct does not rise to the level of a crime. Deadly force is justified in defense of one’s property by a person who is privileged to be on the premises and who reasonably believes such force is necessary to prevent an attempt by the criminal trespasser to commit any crime of violence.

Twenty states have stand-your-ground laws. Generally, these laws allow an individual to use force in self-defense when there is reasonable belief of a threat, without an obligation to retreat first if the individual (1) has a legal right to be at the location and (2) is not engaged in unlawful activity. Connecticut does not have a stand-your-ground law. Connecticut law specifically requires an individual to retreat, if able to do so, before using reasonable force.

CASTLE DOCTRINE

The Castle Doctrine is a common law doctrine that designates a person’s abode (or, in some states, any place legally occupied, such as a car or place of work) as a place in which the person has certain protections and immunities and allows such a person in certain circumstances, to attack an intruder instead of retreating. Typically, deadly force is considered justified homicide only in cases when the actor reasonably feared imminent peril of death or serious bodily harm to oneself or another. The doctrine is not a defined law that can be invoked but is a set of principles that is incorporated in some form in the law of most states. Forty-six states, including Connecticut, have incorporated the Castle Doctrine into law.

Connecticut

The Castle Doctrine is incorporated into Connecticut law governing the use of physical force in defense of premises. This law states that a person who possesses or controls a premises, or is licensed or privileged to be on such premises, is justified in using reasonable physical force upon another person when he or she reasonably believes it to be necessary to prevent or stop someone from criminally trespassing. Deadly force is reasonable only (1) to defend oneself or another; (2) when one reasonably believes deadly force is necessary to prevent an attempt by the trespasser to commit arson or any violent crime; or (3) to the extent the person reasonably believes it is necessary and only to prevent or terminate an unlawful entry by force into his or her dwelling or place of work (CGS § 53a-20).

In the last five years, two bills have been introduced seeking to expand the Castle Doctrine, but none have made it past the Judiciary Committee.

Connecticut courts have recognized the common law privilege to challenge an unlawful entry into one’s home, to the extent that a person’s conduct does not rise to the level of a crime (State v. Brocuglio, 264 Conn. 778, 794 (2003)). In finding for the defendants in homicide cases, courts have interpreted CGS §53a-20 as permitting the use of deadly force by a person who is privileged to be on the premises and who “reasonably believes [such force] is necessary to prevent an attempt by the [criminal] trespasser to commit arson or any crime of violence” (State v. Garrison, 203 Conn. 466, 472, (1987)).

STAND-YOUR-GROUND

Stand-your-ground laws allow someone to use force in self-defense when there is reasonable belief of a threat, without an obligation to retreat first. Twenty states, excluding Connecticut, have stand-your-ground laws. Generally, these laws require the person to (1) have a legal right to be at the location and (2) not be engaged in unlawful activity.

Connecticut

Connecticut does not have a stand-your-ground law but instead requires an individual to retreat when able to do so. Under state law, the use of deadly force that might otherwise have been justifiable is not warranted if someone “knows that he can avoid the necessity of using such force with complete safety…by retreating…” (CGS § 53a-19(b)); State v. Garrison, 203 Conn. 466, 472, (1987)). The state’s Castle Doctrine law is an exception to this requirement to retreat. In 2007, a bill was introduced to enact stand-your-ground legislation, but did not pass the Judiciary Committee.

Choose the Lyman Agency

The Lyman Agency, LLC is a full-service Connecticut insurance agency that specializes in helping people to choose the right coverage for their needs at the best rates. To obtain your free car insurance quote, contact us today.

 

Our licensed agents will be happy to review your insurance needs, and together we will determine what is best for you!

Personal Umbrella Policy

As you accumulate assets and your net worth grows, this is the time to seriously consider a Personal Umbrella Policy. An Umbrella Policy is liability coverage in increments of a million dollars that is in addition to your liability coverages on your underlying policies, of homeowners, Personal Auto, boat and motorcycle.

We will be happy to review your insurance needs and together we will determine what is best for you.

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Be Sure With Lyman Insure

At Lyman, we understand that your business is unique. You want an insurance agency that is familiar with the business to ensure you have the complete coverage you need.

Lyman Insure™ has the experience that business owners need to protect all aspects of their business. At The Lyman Agency, LLC., we recognize that it is the relationships we establish with our clients that set us apart. Please contact us for a free quote or insurance evaluation. You can be sure with Lyman Insure.

 

Protection for you and your family for Life:

You work hard to make sure your loved ones have a comfortable life. How would they fare financially if you weren’t there to provide for them? Without your income to support them, could your family pay bills, make mortgage payments, cover debts or fund a college education? Life insurance is one of the best ways to protect the people you love.

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