{"id":371596,"date":"2017-08-18T15:52:06","date_gmt":"2017-08-18T20:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-stand-your-ground-and-self-defense-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-03-18T10:26:36","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T15:26:36","slug":"arizona-stand-your-ground-and-self-defense-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-stand-your-ground-and-self-defense-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Stand Your Ground and Self Defense Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Arizona Stand Your Ground and Self Defense Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\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

The right to self-defense is one of the most hotly-contested topics in America today. Many states<\/a> have enacted affirmative "stand your ground laws," which say you do not have to retreat before defending yourself when faced with an immediate threat of force.<\/p>\r\n

Arizona’s stand-your-ground law (Arizona Revised Statutes \u00a7 13-411<\/a>) allows using reasonable force, up to and including lethal force, to prevent an enumerated list of crimes. ARS 13-405<\/a> allows the use of deadly force without a duty to retreat if someone faces an unlawful deadly attack.<\/p>\r\n

Understanding Arizona’s Self-Defense Laws<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Most self-defense laws do not specify a duty to retreat<\/a>. Only 11 states have laws requiring people to retreat if it is safe before using force to defend themselves. All other states have stand-your-ground laws or case law that does not require retreat.<\/p>\r\n

Stand Your Ground vs. Self-Defense<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

When Florida enacted its stand-your-ground law<\/a>, it tried to answer discrepancies in the language of the laws. It was not clear if a victim had to retreat before defending themselves. Under common law precepts, victims had a duty to retreat to a place of safety if they could reasonably do so.<\/p>\r\n

Modern American law was mostly silent about any duty to retreat except in a few states whose laws say victims must retreat if it is safe. Some states, like California<\/a>, rely on an interpretation of case law but conclude there is no duty to retreat.<\/p>\r\n

Arizona has two statutes that do not require a duty to retreat.<\/p>\r\n

ARS \u00a7 13-405<\/a> \u2014 justification for use of deadly physical force. A person may use deadly physical force against another if:<\/p>\r\n