Map Options
Castle Doctrine States 2024
A castle doctrine is a self-defense law that states that a person’s home (sometimes also a place of work or vehicle) is a place that grants one protection and immunity from prosecution in certain circumstances to use force or deadly force to defend oneself against an intruder. There is no duty to retreat from the situation in one’s home (or workplace or vehicle if applicable) before using force, but there may be a duty to retreat in a public place.
The United States has two different self-defense laws. The “Stand Your Ground” Law states that there is no duty to retreat from the situation before using deadly force and is not limited to one’s home, place of work, or vehicle. The “Duty to Retreat” Law states that one cannot harm another in self-defense when it is possible to retreat from a threatening situation to a place of safety. In all duty-to-retreat states, the duty to retreat does not apply when the defender is in their own home. States may have both a Castle Doctrine and a Stand Your Ground variation, such as Iowa.
Forty-five states have some form of the castle doctrine. Castle doctrines can vary slightly from state to state, with some states narrowing their right to use deadly force against an intruder. For example, in some states, you must prove that an intruder was attempting to commit a felony. In other states, it is limited to only when a person is in his or her vehicle.
North Carolina has a broad version of the castle doctrine. It states that a person who “unlawfully and forcibly” enters one’s home, workplace, or car is presumed to intend violence and harm, and therefore it is easy to establish self-defense. Illinois’s version of the castle doctrine has more restrictions. The castle doctrine for Illinois does not include one’s workplace or vehicle. Additionally, one can only use deadly force if an intruder is committing a felony or enters the home in a “violent, riotous or tumultuous manner.”
Castle Doctrine States
Stand Your Ground States
Of these states, California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington have case law/precedent or jury instructions)
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Virginia
- Washington
Duty to Retreat States
In Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Nebraska, and North Dakota, the duty to retreat does not apply when the defender is in their workplace.
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- Displayed death rates are given per 100,000 residents
- Displayed gun registration rates are given per 1,000 residents
- Gun laws may change quickly. As such, listed categories should not be considered legally authoritative.
State | Self Defense Laws | Gun Ownership Rate | Gun Death Rate (per 100k) | Registered Gun Rate (per 1k) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Stand Your Ground | 52.8% | 23.60 | 38.70 |
| Alaska | Castle Doctrine | 57.2% | 23.50 | 38.50 |
| Arizona | Castle Doctrine | 36.4% | 16.70 | 35.60 |
| Arkansas | Castle Doctrine | 51.8% | 22.60 | 44.30 |
| California | Stand Your Ground | 16.3% | 8.50 | 10.40 |
| Colorado | Stand Your Ground | 37.9% | 15.40 | 25.70 |
| Connecticut | Duty to Retreat | 18.8% | 6 | 20.80 |
| Delaware | Duty to Retreat | 38.7% | 14.40 | 6.10 |
| Florida | Stand Your Ground | 28.8% | 13.70 | 23.80 |
| Georgia | Stand Your Ground | 37.7% | 17.70 | 28.20 |
| Hawaii | Duty to Retreat | 9.1% | 3.40 | 6.40 |
| Idaho | Stand Your Ground | 57.8% | 17.60 | 40.20 |
| Illinois | Stand Your Ground | 22.6% | 14.10 | 11.40 |
| Indiana | Castle Doctrine | 42.4% | 17.30 | 23.10 |
| Iowa | Castle Doctrine | 38.5% | 11.20 | 17 |
| Kansas | Stand Your Ground | 42.3% | 16.90 | 23.80 |
| Kentucky | Stand Your Ground | 52.5% | 20.10 | 24.10 |
| Louisiana | Stand Your Ground | 52.3% | 26.30 | 32.90 |
| Maine | Duty to Retreat | 47.7% | 10.40 | 15.60 |
| Maryland | Duty to Retreat | 16.7% | 13.50 | 22.10 |
| Massachusetts | Duty to Retreat | 9.9% | 3.70 | 6.50 |
| Michigan | Castle Doctrine | 38.9% | 14.60 | 10.90 |
| Minnesota | Duty to Retreat | 39.1% | 8.90 | 22.70 |
| Mississippi | Castle Doctrine | 54.1% | 28.60 | 27.40 |
| Missouri | Castle Doctrine | 52.8% | 23.90 | 18.40 |
| Montana | Castle Doctrine | 65.7% | 20.90 | 33.20 |
| Nebraska | Duty to Retreat | 39.2% | 10.10 | 22 |
| Nevada | Castle Doctrine | 32.9% | 17 | 37.90 |
| New Hampshire | Castle Doctrine | 46.3% | 8.90 | 52.10 |
| New Jersey | Duty to Retreat | 8.9% | 5 | 1.10 |
| New Mexico | Stand Your Ground | 35.9% | 22.70 | 58.10 |
| New York | Duty to Retreat | 14.5% | 5.30 | 4.60 |
| North Carolina | Castle Doctrine | 37.1% | 16 | 21.10 |
| North Dakota | Castle Doctrine | 53.3% | 13.80 | 40 |
| Ohio | Castle Doctrine | 41.9% | 15.20 | 17.70 |
| Oklahoma | Stand Your Ground | 54.9% | 20.70 | 25.90 |
| Oregon | Stand Your Ground | 41.4% | 13 | 23 |
| Pennsylvania | Stand Your Ground | 40.2% | 13.60 | 26.90 |
| Rhode Island | Duty to Retreat | 13.9% | 5.10 | 4.50 |
| South Carolina | Stand Your Ground | 45.5% | 22 | 23 |
| South Dakota | Castle Doctrine | 55.6% | 13.60 | 72.20 |
| Tennessee | Castle Doctrine | 46.9% | 21.30 | 21.70 |
| Texas | Castle Doctrine | 35.5% | 14.20 | 34.10 |
| Utah | Castle Doctrine | 39.7% | 13.60 | 3.40 |
| Vermont | Stand Your Ground | 50.3% | 11.60 | 14.60 |
| Virginia | Stand Your Ground | 35.3% | 13.40 | 49 |
| Washington | Stand Your Ground | 32.1% | 10.90 | 1.20 |
| West Virginia | Castle Doctrine | 60.6% | 18.10 | 92.80 |
| Wisconsin | Duty to Retreat | 47.1% | 12.20 | 16.30 |
| Wyoming | Castle Doctrine | 60.7% | 25.90 | 245.80 |