57 articles
Alabama is a stand-your-ground state with no duty to retreat anywhere you are lawfully present. Learn how Ala. Code 13A-3-23 defines castle doctrine, deadly-force justification, and criminal and civil immunity.
Alaska is a stand-your-ground state under AS 11.81.335(b)(7). Learn Alaska castle doctrine (home + workplace), civil immunity (AS 09.65.330), and when self-defense fails.
Arizona is a stand-your-ground state. Learn how A.R.S. § 13-405(B), § 13-411, § 13-418, and § 13-413 define no-duty-to-retreat, castle doctrine, and civil immunity.
Arkansas is a stand-your-ground state since Act 250 of 2021. Learn how § 5-2-607 eliminates duty to retreat and § 5-2-608 protects your home.
California has no stand-your-ground statute but imposes no duty to retreat under CALCRIM 505 and case law. Castle doctrine (PC 198.5) covers the home only. No civil immunity. Updated 2026.
Colorado HB25-1133 took effect July 1, 2026, setting a minimum age of 21 to buy ammunition, requiring vendor-assisted sales and age-verified delivery statewide.
Colorado has no stand-your-ground statute but case law imposes no duty to retreat. The Make My Day law (C.R.S. 18-1-704.5) grants criminal and civil immunity for using deadly force inside a dwelling against unlawful intruders.
Connecticut is a duty-to-retreat state. C.G.S. § 53a-19 requires retreat before deadly force in public, with no-retreat exceptions inside a dwelling or workplace. No stand-your-ground law, no civil immunity.
Delaware is a duty-to-retreat state. Under 11 Del. C. § 464(e), deadly force is only justified if retreat is impossible with complete safety. Learn about the castle doctrine exceptions for home and workplace.
Florida is the original stand-your-ground state. Learn how § 776.012 removes the duty to retreat, § 776.013 covers the castle doctrine and occupied vehicles, and the 2017 burden shift under § 776.032.
Georgia is a stand-your-ground state. Learn how O.C.G.A. 16-3-23.1 removes the duty to retreat and § 16-3-23 protects your home, vehicle, and business.
Hawaii is NOT a stand-your-ground state. HRS § 703-304(5)(b) requires retreat when safe to do so, with exceptions for your dwelling and place of work. No civil immunity. Updated 2026.
Idaho is a stand-your-ground state under § 19-202A. Learn how the castle doctrine (§ 18-4009) covers homes, businesses, and vehicles, plus civil immunity under § 6-808.
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.
Indiana is a stand-your-ground state. IC 35-41-3-2 eliminates any duty to retreat. Learn Indiana castle doctrine, deadly force rules, and civil immunity (IC 34-30-31).
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Mississippi is a stand-your-ground state. Miss. Code Ann. 97-3-15(4) eliminates any duty to retreat; 97-3-15(3) creates a castle doctrine presumption for homes, vehicles, businesses, and workplaces. Learn about immunity under 97-3-15(5) and the 2023 amendment.
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.
Nebraska is a duty-to-retreat state, not stand your ground. Learn how 28-1409 works, the castle doctrine for home and workplace, the co-worker carve-out, and when self-defense fails.
Nevada is a stand-your-ground state. NRS 200.120 eliminates the duty to retreat for lawful occupants. Learn Nevada castle doctrine, deadly force rules, and civil immunity under NRS 41.095.
New Hampshire is a stand-your-ground state under RSA 627:4(III). No duty to retreat in your home, its curtilage, or anywhere you have a right to be. Learn NH castle doctrine, deadly force rules, and civil immunity under RSA 627:1-a.
New Jersey is a duty-to-retreat state, not stand your ground. N.J.S.A. 2C:3-4(b)(2)(b) bars deadly force when safe retreat is possible. Castle doctrine covers the dwelling only. No civil immunity statute.
New Mexico has no stand-your-ground statute, but case law (State v. Couch 1946) and UJI 14-5190 establish no duty to retreat. NMSA 30-2-7 governs justifiable homicide.
New York is a duty-to-retreat state. Under Penal Law § 35.15(2)(a), deadly force is barred when safe retreat is possible. Castle doctrine applies in the dwelling only. No stand your ground, no civil immunity.
North Carolina stand-your-ground and castle doctrine explained. G.S. 14-51.3 removes duty to retreat; 14-51.2 creates presumption of reasonable fear for home, vehicle, and workplace intrusions.
North Dakota is a stand-your-ground state since HB 1498 (2021). No duty to retreat anywhere lawfully present. Castle doctrine presumption for home, workplace, and occupied RVs under N.D.C.C. 12.1-05-07.1.
Ohio is a stand-your-ground state under ORC 2901.09(B) (SB 175, eff. April 6, 2021). No duty to retreat anywhere lawfully present. Castle doctrine presumption at ORC 2901.05(B)(2) covers residence and vehicle.
Oklahoma is a stand-your-ground state. 21 O.S. 1289.25 removes the duty to retreat, establishes a castle doctrine for home, vehicle, business, place of worship, and other occupied premises (HB 2818, eff. Nov. 1, 2025), and grants criminal and civil immunity for justified force.
Oregon has no stand-your-ground statute, but State v. Sandoval (2007) held ORS 161.219 imposes no duty to retreat. ORS 161.219 governs deadly force; ORS 161.225 covers defense of premises.
Is Pennsylvania a stand-your-ground state? Yes, conditionally. Learn the weapon-display rule, castle doctrine (18 Pa.C.S. § 505), and duty to retreat in 2026.
Rhode Island is a duty-to-retreat state. Learn about R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-8, the castle doctrine for burglary/breaking-and-entering, the common-law reasonable-fear standard, and when self-defense fails.
Self-defense laws by state: which states are stand-your-ground, which impose a duty to retreat, and how castle doctrine works in all 50 states plus DC. Updated 2026.
South Carolina stand-your-ground and castle doctrine explained. S.C. Code 16-11-440(C) removes duty to retreat; 16-11-440(A) creates presumption of reasonable fear for home, residence, and vehicle intrusions. Criminal and civil immunity under 16-11-450.
South Dakota is a stand-your-ground state under SDCL 22-18-4 (HB 1212, 2021). No duty to retreat anywhere lawfully present. Criminal and civil immunity under SDCL 22-18-4.1 and 22-18-4.8.
In Anderson v. Streeter (2026 S.D. 17), South Dakota's high court affirmed civil self-defense immunity, holding a shove an hour earlier did not erase the right.
SCOTUS ruled 6-3 in Wolford v. Lopez (June 25, 2026) that states may not make carry a crime by default on private property open to the public.
Tennessee is a stand-your-ground state. T.C.A. § 39-11-611(b) removes the duty to retreat; § 39-11-611(c) creates a presumption of fear for forcible entry. Civil immunity under § 39-11-622.
Texas is a stand-your-ground state under Tex. Penal Code 9.32(c). Learn how castle doctrine, the 9.32(b) presumption, and civil immunity under CPRC 83.001 work in Texas (2026).
A divided en banc Third Circuit ruled on July 17, 2026 that New Jersey's assault-weapons and large-capacity magazine bans violate the Second Amendment. The ruling is not yet in effect.
Utah is a stand-your-ground state. Learn how Utah Code 76-2-402 eliminates any duty to retreat and how the 2024 amendment to 76-2-405 expanded castle doctrine to vehicles and workplaces.
Vermont recognizes no duty to retreat by case law: State v. Hatcher (1997) affirms standing your ground when the belief that force is necessary is honest and reasonable, and 13 V.S.A. § 2305 codifies justifiable homicide.
A Washington County judge ruled July 7 that his injunction on Virginia's assault firearm sale ban applies statewide from July 21, 2026; an appeal is expected.
Virginia self-defense law is common law, not statutory. A faultless defender has no duty to retreat; an at-fault defender must. Learn the castle doctrine and more.
Washington has no stand-your-ground statute, but State v. Studd and State v. Redmond hold there is no duty to retreat when assaulted in a place you have a right to be. RCW 9A.16.050 covers the home.
Washington D.C. is not a stand your ground state. DC uses a Gillis middle-ground rule: no absolute duty to retreat, but the jury may weigh failure to retreat when assessing reasonable belief. No SYG statute, no civil immunity.
West Virginia is a stand-your-ground state. W. Va. Code 55-7-22 removes the duty to retreat in the home and anywhere you are lawfully present. Learn the castle doctrine, deadly-force rules, and civil immunity.
Wisconsin has a castle-doctrine presumption under Wis. Stat. 939.48(1m) for home, vehicle, and business, but no stand-your-ground law. In public, retreat ability is a jury factor. Learn the full Wisconsin self-defense rules.
Wyoming is a stand-your-ground state under W.S. 6-2-602(e). No duty to retreat anywhere you are lawfully present. Castle doctrine presumption covers homes and occupied vehicles.