Second Amendment Tracker
Stand-Your-Ground Laws by State (2026)
If you are attacked somewhere you are lawfully allowed to be, must you try to retreat before defending yourself? The answer depends entirely on the state. Below is what the National Conference of State Legislatures records for all 50, including which states also shield a defender from being sued.
38 states impose no duty to retreat before using force in self-defence; NCSL does not list 12.
31 of the 38 are by statute and 7 by court decision β a judicial rule can be narrowed by a later ruling, which a statute cannot.
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, as of September 2026
Updated
This dataset is one of five measures in The Liberty Index, our 0β100 ranking of all 50 states on self-defense and two other domains β with the full methodology and exclusions published.
31 No Duty to Retreat
7 Recognized by Court Decision
12 Not Listed by NCSL
02550 states
31 states recognise no duty to retreat
7 recognise it through court decisions
23 also shield a defender from civil suit
12 not listed by NCSL either way
The three categories
Status follows the National Conference of State Legislatures, the standard non-partisan reference for state self-defence law.
- No Duty to Retreat. NCSL records that, by statute or court case, a person has no duty to retreat in any place where they are lawfully present. This is what is usually meant by "stand your ground".
- Recognized by Court Decision. Deadly force in self-defense is permitted through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute.
- Not Listed by NCSL. NCSL does not name this state in either group on that page. These are generally the duty-to-retreat jurisdictions, but the source does not say so, so neither do we. Check a primary source.
The 50-state table
| State | Status | Civil immunity | What NCSL records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| Alaska | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| Arizona | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Arkansas | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| California | Recognized by Court Decision | Not listed | California permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute. |
| Colorado | Recognized by Court Decision | Yes | 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. |
| Connecticut | Not Listed by NCSL | Not listed | 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. |
| Delaware | Not Listed by NCSL | Not listed | 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. |
| Florida | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Georgia | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Hawaii | Not Listed by NCSL | Not listed | 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. |
| Idaho | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Illinois | Recognized by Court Decision | Yes | 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. |
| Indiana | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Iowa | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| Kansas | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| Kentucky | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Louisiana | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Maine | Not Listed by NCSL | Not listed | 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. |
| Maryland | Not Listed by NCSL | Yes | 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. |
| Massachusetts | Not Listed by NCSL | Not listed | 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. |
| Michigan | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Minnesota | Not Listed by NCSL | Not listed | 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. |
| Mississippi | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| Missouri | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| Montana | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Nebraska | Not Listed by NCSL | Not listed | 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. |
| Nevada | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| New Hampshire | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| New Jersey | Not Listed by NCSL | Not listed | 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. |
| New Mexico | Recognized by Court Decision | Not listed | New Mexico permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute. |
| New York | Not Listed by NCSL | Not listed | 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. |
| North Carolina | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| North Dakota | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Ohio | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Oklahoma | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Oregon | Recognized by Court Decision | Not listed | Oregon permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute. |
| Pennsylvania | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Rhode Island | Not Listed by NCSL | Not listed | 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. |
| South Carolina | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| South Dakota | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| Tennessee | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Texas | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| Utah | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| Vermont | Recognized by Court Decision | Not listed | Vermont permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute. |
| Virginia | Recognized by Court Decision | Not listed | Virginia permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute. |
| Washington | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
| West Virginia | No Duty to Retreat | Yes | 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. |
| Wisconsin | Not Listed by NCSL | Yes | 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. |
| Wyoming | No Duty to Retreat | Not listed | 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. |
No states in this category.
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"Stand-Your-Ground Laws by State (2026): A 50-State Guide," The Liberty Tribune, https://thelibertytribune.com/trackers/stand-your-ground-by-state/ Methodology & sources
Every row follows the National Conference of State Legislatures (as of September 2026). NCSL names 31 states that recognise, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat anywhere a person is lawfully present, and a further group that permits deadly force in self-defence through judicial decisions or jury instructions. It separately lists 23 states whose self-defence law also shields a person from being sued in civil court for damages.
Two things we deliberately do not do. NCSL's judicial group contains eight states, and Washington appears in both its lists; rather than quietly pick one, Washington is filed under no-duty-to-retreat and the overlap is stated in its row. And 12 states are named in neither list β Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. These are generally understood to be duty-to-retreat jurisdictions, but NCSL does not say so on this page, so neither do we. They are marked "not listed" rather than given a status we cannot source.
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures. Compiled by The Liberty Tribune. Last verified September 24, 2026. This is a reference to what NCSL records, not legal advice. Self-defence law turns on facts a table cannot hold, including where you were, who provoked the encounter and what force was met. Verify your state's current rule with a primary source or a lawyer before relying on it.