{
  "dataset": "stand-your-ground-laws",
  "title": "Stand-Your-Ground Laws by State",
  "as_of": "September 2026",
  "last_verified": "September 24, 2026",
  "source": "National Conference of State Legislatures",
  "source_url": "https://www.ncsl.org/civil-and-criminal-justice/self-defense-and-stand-your-ground",
  "publisher": "The Liberty Tribune",
  "publisher_url": "https://thelibertytribune.com",
  "license": "https://thelibertytribune.com/republish/",
  "canonical": "https://thelibertytribune.com/trackers/stand-your-ground-by-state/",
  "rows": 50,
  "data": [
    {
      "state": "Alabama",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Alabama among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    },
    {
      "state": "Alaska",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Alaska among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    },
    {
      "state": "Arizona",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Arizona among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Arkansas",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Arkansas among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "California",
      "category": "judicial",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "California permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute."
    },
    {
      "state": "Colorado",
      "category": "judicial",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "Colorado permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Connecticut",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list Connecticut among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "Delaware",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list Delaware among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "Florida",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Florida among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Georgia",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Georgia among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Hawaii",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list Hawaii among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "Idaho",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Idaho among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Illinois",
      "category": "judicial",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "Illinois permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Indiana",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Indiana among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Iowa",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Iowa among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    },
    {
      "state": "Kansas",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Kansas among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    },
    {
      "state": "Kentucky",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Kentucky among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Louisiana",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Louisiana among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Maine",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list Maine among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "Maryland",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list Maryland among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "Massachusetts",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list Massachusetts among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "Michigan",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Michigan among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Minnesota",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list Minnesota among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "Mississippi",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Mississippi among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    },
    {
      "state": "Missouri",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Missouri among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    },
    {
      "state": "Montana",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Montana among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Nebraska",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list Nebraska among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "Nevada",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Nevada among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    },
    {
      "state": "New Hampshire",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists New Hampshire among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "New Jersey",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list New Jersey among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "New Mexico",
      "category": "judicial",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "New Mexico permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute."
    },
    {
      "state": "New York",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list New York among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "North Carolina",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists North Carolina among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "North Dakota",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists North Dakota among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Ohio",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Ohio among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Oklahoma",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Oklahoma among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Oregon",
      "category": "judicial",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "Oregon permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute."
    },
    {
      "state": "Pennsylvania",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Pennsylvania among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Rhode Island",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list Rhode Island among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "South Carolina",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists South Carolina among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "South Dakota",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists South Dakota among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    },
    {
      "state": "Tennessee",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Tennessee among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Texas",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Texas among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    },
    {
      "state": "Utah",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Utah among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    },
    {
      "state": "Vermont",
      "category": "judicial",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "Vermont permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute."
    },
    {
      "state": "Virginia",
      "category": "judicial",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "Virginia permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute."
    },
    {
      "state": "Washington",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "alsoJudicial": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Washington among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present; NCSL also names it in the judicial-decision group."
    },
    {
      "state": "West Virginia",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL lists West Virginia among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages."
    },
    {
      "state": "Wisconsin",
      "category": "not-listed",
      "civilImmunity": true,
      "summary": "NCSL does not list Wisconsin among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages. Verify with a primary source before relying on it."
    },
    {
      "state": "Wyoming",
      "category": "no-duty-to-retreat",
      "civilImmunity": false,
      "summary": "NCSL lists Wyoming among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present."
    }
  ]
}