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Colorado serviceman's trial challenges 'make my day' law

Colorado serviceman's trial challenges 'make my day' law
Posted at 12:12 PM, Jun 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-15 14:15:53-04

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado man who's a 12-year member of an Army Special Forces unit is standing trial for shooting an intruder three times in the backin his house's detached garage.

The Colorado Springs Gazette reports prosecutors argued Wednesday that 35-year-old Michael Joseph Galvin crossed the line from serviceman to vigilante when he shot the intruder. Galvin is charged with negligent homicide, which carries a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison.

Galvin's fate hinges on how the state's "make my day" law will be interpreted. The law gives homeowners the right to shoot and kill an intruder if they believe the person intends to commit a crime and use physical force. The question in the case is whether a detached garage qualifies under the law.

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Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazette.com