{"id":352210,"date":"2023-10-02T13:24:34","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T18:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-law-basics\/states-that-have-stand-your-ground-laws.html"},"modified":"2023-10-02T13:24:34","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T18:24:34","slug":"states-that-have-stand-your-ground-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-law-basics\/states-that-have-stand-your-ground-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"States That Have Stand Your Ground Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

States That Have Stand Your Ground Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Olivia Wathne, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

\n

"Stand your ground" laws are sometimes called \u201cshoot first" laws. They remove the duty to retreat and permit the use of deadly force in self-defense. But the scope of these laws varies from state to state.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Some states have self-defense laws that are similar to"stand your ground" laws<\/a>, but there is one key difference. While self-defense laws remove any duty to retreat, these laws only apply to specific locations such as one’s home or place of work. These types of laws are often referred to as castle doctrine<\/a> or defense of habitation laws.<\/p>\r\n

Because each state is different, it’s important to check what you can and can’t do in self-defense. To understand the laws in your state, especially if you face criminal charges, you can consult with a local criminal defense lawyer<\/a>. <\/p>\r\n

Types of Self-Defense Laws<\/h2>\r\n

Although some states use a blend of doctrines, self-defense laws generally fall into the following three categories:<\/p>\r\n