{"id":373147,"date":"2017-12-29T17:36:44","date_gmt":"2017-12-29T22:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/illinois-law\/illinois-self-defense-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-05-22T14:58:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T19:58:37","slug":"illinois-self-defense-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/illinois-law\/illinois-self-defense-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Illinois Self Defense Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Illinois Self Defense Laws<\/h1>\n
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\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
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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
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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

Self-defense statutes are some of the most debated laws in America today. About half of all states have affirmative \u201cstand your ground<\/a>\u201d laws. These self-defense laws specifically state that you have no duty to retreat before using force to defend yourself or others. A few states have laws requiring you to retreat if you can do so safely before the use of deadly force.<\/p>\r\n

The remaining states, like Illinois, have affirmative self-defense laws. These laws require defendants to prove that they believed they were in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death and that they used reasonable force against the aggressor under the circumstances.<\/p>\r\n

Illinois Self-Defense Laws<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Illinois law<\/a> states that you may defend yourself if you think you have a reasonable belief of imminent harm. The threat must be immediate. You cannot defend yourself against a threat that might happen in the future. To claim a justifiable use of force, you must also show:<\/p>\r\n