Legislation that provides stronger guidelines and regulations for self-defense rights has some Democratic lawmakers concerned.

The Self-Defense Act, which was made up of a package of bills, was signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Thursday.

It allows people to use deadly force without needing to retreat if they think they could be killed, suffer great bodily harm or sexual assault. The bill states a person can use deadly force in these situations anywhere he or she has a legal right to be.

The act was approved by a 90-17 vote in the state House in June, with only Democratic representatives in opposition.

The critics of the act said they think the legislation encourages the wrong behaviors and could lead to innocent people being wounded.

"We ought to try and avoid violence — we have way too much of that in this society," said Senate Minority Leader Bob Emerson, D-Flint.

"I think people have the right to protect themselves when they don't have a choice, but they also have, under what had been the law, the duty to avoid deadly confrontation."

Emerson, who voted against the bill, said he thinks the legislation isn't going to help those who are attacked.

"I think this was the wrong answer to a problem that I'm not sure exists," he said.

Granholm's spokeswoman, Liz Boyd, said there was some concern about the legislation, but that the governor signed it once it was adjusted accordingly.

"The governor fought for and was able to get a number of amendments on this package so she could support it," Boyd said. "Language was added to assure that victims of domestic violence have adequate protection by removing rebuttal presumptions of the aggressor, if the aggressor has had a previous (conviction)."

John Truscott, spokesman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos, said DeVos supported the legislation.

"A person should have the right to protect themselves, their family and their home," Truscott said. "The bills are certainly appropriate in allowing people to protect themselves."

Supporters say the legislation is needed partly because the law requires people to first retreat, which supporters say puts them at a disadvantage.

Sen. Alan L. Cropsey, R-DeWitt, who introduced one of the bills, said he doesn't think the legislation will create more violence.

"Responsible gun owners will use their guns responsibly to protect themselves," he said. "I think there will be very few negative repercussions."

The legislation also creates a "rebuttable presumption" in a criminal or civil case, which means that the person defending him or herself, unless there is contradicting evidence, was in the right to defend him or herself from bodily harm.

Cropsey said he thought it was interesting that Granholm signed the legislation.

"Evidently she has realized that when people are defending themselves (and/or) their homes, she now agrees that they have no duty to retreat and that they can stand their ground," he said.

The Associated Press and Holly Klaft contributed to this report.