The new so-called 'shoot-first' laws are basically strengthening the pre-existing 'castle doctrine.' From: Governor signs "castle doctrine" bill:

The new law specifies that citizens have a right to assume that anyone who enters their homes illegally is there to do them harm. It also says that homeowners who kill intruders justifiably can't be sued for it.

Seems like simple common sense to me. It strikes me as stupid that I could be sued for defending my home. Breaking into my home is an implicit threat, and the idea that it should expose me to lawsuits from the criminal or his family is just retarded.

Of course the trial lawyers don't like common sense:

Cheyenne lawyer Tom Jubin, who represented the Wyoming Trial Lawyers' Association in lobbying against the bill, said its odd that state leaders would limit peoples' ability to take their disputes to court.

"Ultimately, the way we structured our society is that instead of shooting each other, we would take our disputes to a court of law," he said.

Jubin also criticized the provision that specifies people can assume that others who enter their homes intend to harm them.

"Sounds pretty dangerous for grandpa, who's coming over to check on the house, or whatever, and you don't know he's coming over," Jubin said.

That bit about settling disputes in court is priceless. I don't imagine that even a skilled trial lawyer can get a motion on the docket faster than the meth addict can hit you with a crowbar. Oh, and if 'grandpa' decided he needs to break a window at 3AM to check on the house then I guess he is in for a rude awakening.