The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Duty to Retreat, "Stand Your Ground", and Castle Doctrine

**Frank Ettin** · February 6, 2015, 11:31 AM

Spats, thanks for doing the heavy lifting on this -- some good research.

Although many States have enacted Stand Your Ground Laws/Castle Doctrine Laws which in some circumstances obviate a duty to retreat (California by court decision has no duty to retreat), you still need to know (1) where you are; and (2) what the local law is. There might still be a duty to retreat under your circumstances (e. g., being in a State which has a duty to retreat).

In any case, avoiding a fight, if you can do it safely, has practical advantages. Among other things, it minimizes entanglement with the criminal justice system.

February 6, 2015, 11:31 AM	#7
Frank Ettin Staff Join Date: November 23, 2005 Location: California - San Francisco Posts: 9,471	Spats, thanks for doing the heavy lifting on this -- some good research. Although many States have enacted Stand Your Ground Laws/Castle Doctrine Laws which in some circumstances obviate a duty to retreat (California by court decision has no duty to retreat), you still need to know (1) where you are; and (2) what the local law is. There might still be a duty to retreat under your circumstances (e. g., being in a State which has a duty to retreat). In any case, avoiding a fight, if you can do it safely, has practical advantages. Among other things, it minimizes entanglement with the criminal justice system. __________________ "It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper