Introduction
The castle doctrine refers to self-defense laws that allow individuals to use force, including deadly force, to protect themselves within their own homes or other legally occupied spaces without the obligation to retreat. Several states in the United States have adopted the castle doctrine, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.
The castle doctrine is often seen as an extension of the concept of the home as a person’s sanctuary, where they have the right to protect themselves and their loved ones from intruders or threats. By allowing individuals to defend their homes without the duty to retreat, castle laws recognize the importance of personal safety within one’s own property. It is important to note, however, that the specifics of castle doctrine laws can vary between states.
States With Castle Doctrine
| State | Self-Defense Laws | Red or Blue State |
|---|---|---|
| California | Castle Doctrine | Democrat |
| Colorado | Castle Doctrine | Democrat |
| Illinois | Castle Doctrine | Democrat |
| Iowa | Castle Doctrine | Republican |
| New Mexico | Castle Doctrine | Democrat |
| Oregon | Castle Doctrine | Democrat |
| Vermont | Castle Doctrine | Democrat |
| Virginia | Castle Doctrine | Democrat |
| Washington | Castle Doctrine | Democrat |
| Wyoming | Castle Doctrine | Republican |
| Connecticut | Duty to Retreat | Democrat |
| Delaware | Duty to Retreat | Democrat |
| Hawaii | Duty to Retreat | Democrat |
| Maine | Duty to Retreat | Democrat |
| Maryland | Duty to Retreat | Democrat |
| Massachusetts | Duty to Retreat | Democrat |
| Minnesota | Duty to Retreat | Swing State |
| Nebraska | Duty to Retreat | Republican |
| New Jersey | Duty to Retreat | Democrat |
| New York | Duty to Retreat | Democrat |
| North Dakota | Duty to Retreat | Republican |
| Rhode Island | Duty to Retreat | Democrat |
| Wisconsin | Duty to Retreat | Swing State |
| Alabama | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Alaska | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Arizona | Stand Your Ground | Swing State |
| Arkansas | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Florida | Stand Your Ground | Swing State |
| Georgia | Stand Your Ground | Swing State |
| Idaho | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Indiana | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Kansas | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Kentucky | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Louisiana | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Michigan | Stand Your Ground | Swing State |
| Mississippi | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Missouri | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Montana | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Nevada | Stand Your Ground | Swing State |
| New Hampshire | Stand Your Ground | Democrat |
| North Carolina | Stand Your Ground | Swing State |
| Ohio | Stand Your Ground | Swing State |
| Oklahoma | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Pennsylvania | Stand Your Ground | Swing State |
| South Carolina | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| South Dakota | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Tennessee | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Texas | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| Utah | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
| West Virginia | Stand Your Ground | Republican |
Castle Law States
Alabama
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Alabama is a state with stand your ground laws.
Alaska
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Alaska is a state with stand your ground laws.
Arizona
Stand Your Ground
Swing State
Arizona is a state with stand your ground laws.
Arkansas
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Arkansas is a state with stand your ground laws.
California
Castle Doctrine
Democrat
California is a state with castle doctrine.
Colorado
Castle Doctrine
Democrat
Colorado is a state with castle doctrine.
Connecticut
Duty to Retreat
Democrat
Connecticut is a state with duty to retreat.
Delaware
Duty to Retreat
Democrat
Delaware is a state with duty to retreat.
Florida
Stand Your Ground
Swing State
Florida is a state with stand your ground laws.
Georgia
Stand Your Ground
Swing State
Georgia is a state with stand your ground laws.
Hawaii
Duty to Retreat
Democrat
Hawaii is a state with duty to retreat.
Idaho
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Idaho is a state with stand your ground laws.
Illinois
Castle Doctrine
Democrat
Illinois is a state with castle doctrine.
Indiana
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Indiana is a state with stand your ground laws.
Iowa
Castle Doctrine
Republican
Iowa is a state with castle doctrine.
Kansas
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Kansas is a state with stand your ground laws.
Kentucky
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Kentucky is a state with stand your ground laws.
Louisiana
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Louisiana is a state with stand your ground laws.
Maine
Duty to Retreat
Democrat
Maine is a state with duty to retreat.
Maryland
Duty to Retreat
Democrat
Maryland is a state with duty to retreat.
Massachusetts
Duty to Retreat
Democrat
Massachusetts is a state with duty to retreat.
Michigan
Stand Your Ground
Swing State
Michigan is a state with stand your ground laws.
Minnesota
Duty to Retreat
Swing State
Minnesota is a state with duty to retreat.
Mississippi
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Mississippi is a state with stand your ground laws.
Missouri
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Missouri is a state with stand your ground laws.
Montana
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Montana is a state with stand your ground laws.
Nebraska
Duty to Retreat
Republican
Nebraska is a state with duty to retreat.
Nevada
Stand Your Ground
Swing State
Nevada is a state with stand your ground laws.
New Hampshire
Stand Your Ground
Democrat
New Hampshire is a state with stand your ground laws.
New Jersey
Duty to Retreat
Democrat
New Jersey is a state with duty to retreat.
New Mexico
Castle Doctrine
Democrat
New Mexico is a state with castle doctrine.
New York
Duty to Retreat
Democrat
New York is a state with duty to retreat.
North Carolina
Stand Your Ground
Swing State
North Carolina is a state with stand your ground laws.
North Dakota
Duty to Retreat
Republican
North Dakota is a state with duty to retreat.
Ohio
Stand Your Ground
Swing State
Ohio is a state with stand your ground laws.
Oklahoma
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Oklahoma is a state with stand your ground laws.
Oregon
Castle Doctrine
Democrat
Oregon is a state with castle doctrine.
Pennsylvania
Stand Your Ground
Swing State
Pennsylvania is a state with stand your ground laws.
Rhode Island
Duty to Retreat
Democrat
Rhode Island is a state with duty to retreat.
South Carolina
Stand Your Ground
Republican
South Carolina is a state with stand your ground laws.
South Dakota
Stand Your Ground
Republican
South Dakota is a state with stand your ground laws.
Tennessee
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Tennessee is a state with stand your ground laws.
Texas
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Texas is a state with stand your ground laws.
Utah
Stand Your Ground
Republican
Utah is a state with stand your ground laws.
Vermont
Castle Doctrine
Democrat
Vermont is a state with castle doctrine.
Virginia
Castle Doctrine
Democrat
Virginia is a state with castle doctrine.
Washington
Castle Doctrine
Democrat
Washington is a state with castle doctrine.
West Virginia
Stand Your Ground
Republican
West Virginia is a state with stand your ground laws.
Wisconsin
Duty to Retreat
Swing State
Wisconsin is a state with duty to retreat.
Wyoming
Castle Doctrine
Republican
Wyoming is a state with castle doctrine.
FAQs
What states have castle doctrine ?
States that have castle doctrine laws include California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.
What is castle doctrine ?
Castle doctrine refers to self-defense laws that allow individuals to use force, including deadly force, to protect themselves within their own homes or other legally occupied spaces without the obligation to retreat.
What states do not have castle doctrine ?
States that do not have castle doctrine laws are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
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