SB 88 (2011): relative to physical force in defense of a person, relative to producing or displaying a firearm or other means of self-defense, and relative to eliminating minimum sentencing and adding civil immunity for certain firearm use.

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“SB 88 (2011): relative to physical force in defense of a person, relative to producing or displaying a firearm or other means of self-defense, and relative to eliminating minimum sentencing and adding civil immunity for certain firearm use.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/bill/2011/sb88. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
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Granite Record. “SB 88 (2011): relative to physical force in defense of a person, relative to producing or displaying a firearm or other means of self-defense, and relative to eliminating minimum sentencing and adding civil immunity for certain firearm use.” Accessed 24 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/bill/2011/sb88.
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@misc{bill-2011-sb88, title = {SB 88 (2011): relative to physical force in defense of a person, relative to producing or displaying a firearm or other means of self-defense, and relative to eliminating minimum sentencing and adding civil immunity for certain firearm use.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2011/sb88}, note = {Accessed 24 Oct. 2026} }

SB 88 (2011)

relative to physical force in defense of a person, relative to producing or displaying a firearm or other means of self-defense, and relative to eliminating minimum sentencing and adding civil immunity for certain firearm use.

  • Status: Veto overridden, became law
  • Term: 2011-2012
  • House committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Senate committee: Judiciary
  • Subject: Crimes, Criminal Procedure and Corrections
  • Chapter law: 268

The Story

It was introduced on January 19, 2011 and referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 10, 2011. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes. On March 30, 2011 the Senate adopted “Special Order to the afternoon, Without Objection”. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2011-1222s). The committee's amendment (1222s) was rejected on a voice vote on March 30, 2011. A floor amendment (2011-1310s), offered by Sen. De Blois, was adopted on a voice vote on March 30, 2011, changing the text of the bill. On March 30, 2011 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 17–7 and ordered it to a third reading. It crossed to the House on March 31, 2011 and was referred to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 12, 2011. The committee held work sessions on April 21, 2011, April 26, 2011, May 3, 2011, May 4, 2011 and May 10, 2011. The committee met in executive session on May 17, 2011 to vote on its recommendation. The committee held a work session on May 24, 2011. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2156h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 9–3. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2156h) was adopted on a voice vote on June 1, 2011, changing the text of the bill. A floor amendment (2011-2235h) was proposed on June 1, 2011. On June 1, 2011 the House adopted “Lay Floor Amendment #2235(NT) on Table (Rep Swinford)” on a roll call 257–92. On June 1, 2011 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 248–111. On June 8, 2011 the Senate voted to reject the other chamber's changes on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Houde. On June 8, 2011 the House adopted “House Accedes to Senate Request for C of C (Rep Swinford)” on a voice vote. A committee of conference met on June 13, 2011 and June 15, 2011 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. The House adopted the conference report (2487c) on a roll call 283–89. The Senate adopted the conference report (2487c) on a roll call 19–5. An enrolled bill amendment (2524e) was adopted on June 22, 2011. These correct technical errors found after passage. The bill was enrolled on June 22, 2011 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2011-2524e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor vetoed it on July 13, 2011. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. On September 7, 2011 the Senate voted 17–7 to override the governor's veto on a roll call, meeting the two thirds threshold. On September 14, 2011 the House voted 251–111 to override the governor's veto on a roll call, meeting the two thirds threshold.

Sponsors

Hearings and Sessions

  • March 10, 2011, 1:30 PM: hearing, Senate Judiciary, LOB 101
  • April 12, 2011, 1:00 PM: public hearing, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
  • April 21, 2011, 10:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
  • April 26, 2011, 2:00 PM: subcommittee work session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
  • May 3, 2011, 2:00 PM: subcommittee work session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
  • May 4, 2011, 1:00 PM: subcommittee work session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
  • May 10, 2011, 9:30 AM: subcommittee work session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
  • May 17, 2011, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
  • May 24, 2011, 11:00 AM: full committee work session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
  • June 13, 2011, 1:00 PM: committee of conference, LOB 102
  • June 15, 2011, 1:00 PM: committee of conference, LOB 102

Votes

  • March 30, 2011, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 17, nays 7, passed
  • June 1, 2011, House: LAY FLAM 2235H (NT) ON TABLE (REP SWINFORD) — yeas 257, nays 92, passed
  • June 1, 2011, House: OTP/AM 2156H (NT) — yeas 248, nays 111, passed
  • June 8, 2011, Senate: Nonconcur with House Amendment 2156h; NT, Requests C of C — voice vote, passed
  • June 8, 2011, House: House Accedes to Senate Request for C of C (Rep Swinford) — voice vote, passed
  • June 22, 2011, House: ADOPT COC REPORT #2487C — yeas 283, nays 89, passed
  • June 22, 2011, Senate: Conference Committee Report 2487 — yeas 19, nays 5, passed
  • September 7, 2011, Senate: Notwithstanding the Governor's veto shall the bill become law? — yeas 17, nays 7, passed
  • September 14, 2011, House: SHALL SB88 BECOME LAW? — yeas 251, nays 111, passed
  • September 14, 2011, House: PRINT DEBATE IN PERMANENT JOURNAL (REP P.GARRITY) — yeas 155, nays 203, failed

The Docket

  • January 19, 2011: Introduced and Referred to Judiciary
  • March 10, 2011: Hearing: 3/10/11, Room 101, LOB, 1:30 p.m.; SC14
  • March 24, 2011: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment 1222s, 3/30/11; SC17
  • March 30, 2011: Special Order to the afternoon, Without Objection, MA
  • March 30, 2011: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2011-1222s, 3/30/11
  • March 30, 2011: Committee Amendment 1222s, AF, VV
  • March 30, 2011: Sen. De Blois Floor Amendment #2011-1310s, NT, AA, VV
  • March 30, 2011: Ought to Pass with Amendment 1310s, NT, RC 17Y-7N, MA; OT3rdg
  • March 30, 2011: Passed by Third Reading Resolution
  • March 31, 2011: Introduced and Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • April 12, 2011: Public Hearing: 4/12/2011 1:00 PM LOB 204
  • April 14, 2011: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 4/14/2011 1:00 PM LOB 204
  • April 21, 2011: Subcommittee Work Session: 4/21/2011 10:00 AM LOB 204
  • April 26, 2011: Subcommittee Work Session: 4/26/2011 2:00 PM LOB 204
  • May 3, 2011: Subcommittee Work Session: 5/3/2011 2:00 PM LOB 204
  • May 4, 2011: Subcommittee Work Session: 5/4/2011 1:00 PM LOB 204
  • May 10, 2011: Subcommittee Work Session: 5/10/2011 9:30 AM LOB 204
  • May 17, 2011: Executive Session: 5/17/2011 1:00 PM LOB 204
  • May 24, 2011: Full Committee Work Session: 5/24/2011 11:00 AM LOB 204 ==Executive Session To Follow==
  • May 24, 2011: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2156h(NT) for June 1 (Vote 9-3; RC)
  • May 24, 2011: Proposed Majority Committee Amendment #2011-2156h (New Title)
  • May 24, 2011: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  • June 1, 2011: Amendment #2156h(NT) Adopted, VV
  • June 1, 2011: Floor Amendment #2011-2235h(NT) (Rep Hoell)
  • June 1, 2011: Lay Floor Amendment #2235(NT) on Table (Rep Swinford): MA RC 257-92
  • June 1, 2011: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2156h(NT): MA RC 248-111
  • June 8, 2011: Sen. Houde Moved Nonconcur with House Amendment 2156h; NT, Requests C of C, MA, VV
  • June 8, 2011: President Appoints: Senators Boutin, Groen, and Houde
  • June 8, 2011: House Accedes to Senate Request for C of C (Rep Swinford): MA VV
  • June 8, 2011: Speaker Appoints: Reps Kreis, Welch, Gagne, and Shurtleff
  • June 13, 2011: Committee of Conference Meeting: 6/13/2011, 1:00 p.m., Room 102, LOB
  • June 13, 2011: Conferee Change: Rep Warden Replaces Rep Gagne
  • June 15, 2011: Committee of Conference Meeting: 6/15/2011, 1:00 p.m., Room 102, LOB
  • June 15, 2011: Conferee Change; Senator White Replaces Senator Houde
  • June 15, 2011: Conferee Change: Rep Bettencourt Replaces Rep Welch
  • June 15, 2011: C of C Meeting: 6/15/2011, 1:00 p.m., Room 102, LOB
  • June 15, 2011: C of C Meeting: 6/15/2011, 1:30 p.m., Room 102, LOB
  • June 16, 2011: Conference Committee Report #2011-2487c, House AM + New AM, Filed
  • June 22, 2011: Conference Committee Report #2487c Adopted, RC 283-89
  • June 22, 2011: Conference Committee Report 2487c; RC 19Y-5N, Adopted
  • June 22, 2011: Enrolled Bill Amendment #2524e(NT) Adopted
  • June 22, 2011: Enrolled Bill Amendment #2011-2524e, NT, Adopted, VV
  • June 22, 2011: Enrolled
  • June 22, 2011: Enrolled
  • July 13, 2011: Vetoed by Governor 07/13/2011
  • September 7, 2011: Notwithstanding the Governor’s Veto, Shall SB 88 Become Law: RC 17Y-7N, Veto Overridden by required two-thirds vote
  • September 14, 2011: Veto Overridden: RC 251-111 by Required Two-Thirds
  • September 14, 2011: Chapter 0268; Effective 11/13/2011

Laws It Would Change

From the General Court