{"id":372017,"date":"2018-10-03T11:01:22","date_gmt":"2018-10-03T16:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-self-defense-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-06-06T14:32:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T19:32:17","slug":"colorado-self-defense-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-self-defense-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Self-Defense Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Colorado Self-Defense Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/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

Colorado was one of the first states in America to codify the "castle doctrine" into law. This common-law doctrine permits a homeowner to use a reasonable amount of force up to deadly force in defense of their property and family. Colorado is not a stand-your-ground state, although you may see it described as such. Instead, Colorado has a "make my day" law that is similar and predates the stand-your-ground laws by two decades.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado’s Make My Day Law (named after a movie popular in 1985) was one of the first laws that expanded the castle doctrine to any resident in the home. The Colorado law is an affirmative defense. You must prove you believed you used reasonable force under the circumstances.<\/p>\r\n

"Make My Day Law" versus "Stand Your Ground"<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Stand-your-ground laws have become a point of legal confusion since Florida enacted a true stand-your-ground law in 2005. An affirmative stand-your-ground law like Florida’s has two elements that make it different from other laws:<\/p>\r\n