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Minnesota self-defense laws explained: duty to retreat in public, castle doctrine in the home, Minn. Stat. 609.065 deadly-force standard, no stand-your-ground statute, and no civil immunity.
Michigan is a stand your ground state under MCL 780.972. No duty to retreat anywhere you have a legal right to be. Castle doctrine presumption under MCL 780.951. Updated 2026.
Missouri is a stand-your-ground state under RSMo 563.031.3. Learn the castle doctrine scope, deadly force rules, and civil immunity under RSMo 563.074 (updated 2026).
Montana self-defense laws explained: stand your ground (MCA 45-3-110), castle doctrine (MCA 45-3-103), and when deadly force is justified (MCA 45-3-102). Updated 2026.
Kentucky is a stand-your-ground state. KRS 503.055(3) removes any duty to retreat for people lawfully present. Learn the castle doctrine, presumption, immunity under KRS 503.085, and the 2024 property-defense update.
Massachusetts is a duty-to-retreat state. Outside the home you must retreat if safely possible before using deadly force. G.L. c. 278 s. 8A removes the duty to retreat inside your dwelling. No stand-your-ground law. No civil immunity statute.
Maryland is a duty-to-retreat state by common law. Learn how the castle doctrine, perfect vs. imperfect self-defense, and civil immunity rules work in Maryland (2026).
Iowa is a stand-your-ground state with no duty to retreat (Iowa Code § 704.1(3)) and a castle doctrine presumption for home, business, and vehicles (§ 704.2A). Learn about immunity, deadly force rules, and when self-defense fails.
Louisiana is a stand-your-ground state. La. R.S. 14:19 and 14:20 remove any duty to retreat and establish a castle-doctrine presumption for home, business, and vehicle. 2024 Act 729 limits arrests.
Kansas is a stand-your-ground state. K.S.A. 21-5230 removes any duty to retreat for people lawfully present. Learn the castle doctrine (21-5223), presumption (21-5224), and immunity (21-5231).
Maine is NOT a stand-your-ground state. 17-A M.R.S. § 108 imposes a duty to retreat, with one exception: no retreat required inside your own dwelling if you were not the aggressor. No civil immunity. Updated 2026.
Illinois has no stand-your-ground statute, but case law establishes no duty to retreat. Learn how 720 ILCS 5/7-1 and 5/7-2 govern self-defense and castle doctrine in Illinois.