Maine's veterans department wants state lawmakers to pass a bill that provides civil and criminal immunity to Maine National Guard members who act in self-defense while on duty.
The state Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management has proposed a bill that states the use of deadly force for self-defense or to defend someone else will be considered acting in the performance of duty.
The proposal will be the subject of a hearing before the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs on Monday.
A statement from the veterans department says the bill is motivated by the killing of five servicemen in Chattanooga, Tennessee, last year.
The statement says the rule changes would ensure soldiers and airmen who responded to a similar active-shooter incident would be shielded from liability.
