“No Duty to Retreat” — Inside Delegate Milo West’s Bill

By: Kaylie Ebert

Fond Du Lac delegation’s Milo West pushes for clearer self-defense laws and new voices in debates. Wanting changes in laws and the way delegates debate them, Milo wrote a bill focusing on the issue of ensuring people feel safe defending their homes without the fear of being sued or arrested.

When talking to Milo about his bill he states that  “My bill is about an act to affirm the right to defend. My bill seeks out to prevent a jury or judge from finding them guilty for defending themselves with a firearm. It is a stand your ground type policy where you have no duty to retreat.”

Milo has researched the Castle Doctrine, which allows people to use force against others to defend themselves and their property. Different states have different versions of this doctrine, but most are similar in the “stand your ground” agenda. In Milo’s case, he believes this doctrine is too “vague”, which is why he wants to remove the “duty to retreat” aspect of it officially, in hopes that people don’t run and hide if they are being attacked in their own home or protecting their loved ones fearful that if the law isn’t 100% clear people could be punished for simply protecting themselves. 

“I think it’s important that people shouldn’t fear having to save their life and defend their family and home,” West said.

On the other hand, I asked Milo what his hopes for the future of the Legislative branch was, and he says that “For Leg. next year, I really hope that more people get up and debate on the pros and cons and open debate, because right now it’s just the same 10-15 people who are going up, and I want to hear different voices. I also want to see new delegates next year, and potentially middle schoolers that’ll come up and bring new ideas to the table.”

In the end Milo West is an outstanding delegate who pushes for change in his bills and his desire for making the legislative branch great.