Self-defense is serious business, and accordingly, there are many laws defining and governing what self-defense is, and what it isn’t. Luckily for citizens of the United States, compared to many other civilized, western nations around the globe the right to self-defense is more or less enshrined at all levels of society, though some places are …
An Overview of Stand-Your-Ground Laws in America Read More »
Wyoming is possessed of uniformly excellent self-defense laws, including a robust stand your ground statute. Citizens in Wyoming may use force and self-defense, including deadly force, so long as it is reasonably necessary to stop a corresponding level of unlawful force used against them, or the commission of certain forcible felonies, namely home invasion, carjacking, …
Iowa’s citizens enjoy a clear, succinct “stand your ground” law in the state’s statutes. Citizens are allowed to employ force, including deadly force, against any unlawful use of force against themselves or someone else so long as they are in any place they have a legal right to be and are not engaged in the …
North Dakota is yet another state with excellent self-defense laws, including a robust “stand your ground” statute that has benefited from further improvements thanks to the passage of North Dakota bill HB 1498. Citizens are allowed to use force, including deadly force, in defense of themselves, someone else, or an occupied dwelling, or to prevent …
Arkansas has long been a state with reliable self-defense laws that definitively assert citizen’s right to defend themselves and others against the unlawful use of force. However, it is only recently with the signing of Arkansas Senate Bill 24 that the state has implemented so-called “stand your ground” laws properly. Prior to the implementation of …
Ohio has historically been something of a middle of the road state on many issues, including self-defense. Though generally positive, in times past the state statutes did leave some room for doubt as to the outcome for a good guy or good gal forced to defend themselves against a threat, particularly a lethal one, when …
Vermont is definitely an interesting state when it comes to self defense laws. First, Vermont could be argued to be one of the longest standing and gun-friendliest states in the Union since it was the very first to enact permitless, so-called constitutional carry of firearms. On the other hand, what laws there are concerning self-defense …
Illinois is a state that has long been known for corruption, increasingly draconian anti-gun ownership laws and Byzantine legal proceedings that put everyday folks through the wringer. None of that has changed, but it might surprise you to know that Illinois does, nominally, have self-defense laws on the books that permit citizens to protect themselves …
Oregon is a curious case of eccentric or odd self-defense laws. On the one hand, the state has no explicitly stated, clarified or otherwise codified by case law provision that is commonly termed the stand-your-ground law. On the other hand, Oregon is possessed of generally sturdy and reliable self-defense laws that are clearly stated. Unfortunately, …
Washington is a state with surprisingly good laws covering self defense, and though the state lacks a codified stand-your-ground statute interpretation of case law has time and time again upheld citizens’ rights to hold their ground, and meet a threat with force wherever they happen to be so long as they are there lawfully. Obviously, …
