🛡️ Self-Defense Laws by State — 2026

State-by-state legal reference. Search and filter laws across all 50 states.
0
Illegal
0
Partial
51
Total States
All Legal Illegal Partial
AlabamaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
AlaskaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
ArizonaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
ArkansasLegal (Stand Your Ground)
CaliforniaLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
ColoradoLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
ConnecticutLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
DelawareLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
District of ColumbiaLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
FloridaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
GeorgiaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
HawaiiLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
IdahoLegal (Stand Your Ground)
IllinoisLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
IndianaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
IowaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
KansasLegal (Stand Your Ground)
KentuckyLegal (Stand Your Ground)
LouisianaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
MaineLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
MarylandLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
MassachusettsLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
MichiganLegal (Stand Your Ground)
MinnesotaLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
MississippiLegal (Stand Your Ground)
MissouriLegal (Stand Your Ground)
MontanaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
NebraskaLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
NevadaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
New HampshireLegal (Stand Your Ground)
New JerseyLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
New MexicoLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
New YorkLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
North CarolinaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
North DakotaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
OhioLegal (Stand Your Ground)
OklahomaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
OregonLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
PennsylvaniaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
Rhode IslandLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
South CarolinaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
South DakotaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
TennesseeLegal (Stand Your Ground)
TexasLegal (Stand Your Ground)
UtahLegal (Stand Your Ground)
VermontLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
VirginiaLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
WashingtonLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
West VirginiaLegal (Stand Your Ground)
WisconsinLegal (Castle Doctrine Only)
WyomingLegal (Stand Your Ground)

📅 Most Significant Events in the Last Year — Self-Defense

Alabama (2026-05-24): 2025-2026: Several states have debated Stand Your Ground expansions or restrictions. High-profile cases continue to drive legislative reviews. Some states are considering duty-to-retreat requirements in public spaces.
Alaska (2026-05-24): 2025-2026: Several states have debated Stand Your Ground expansions or restrictions. High-profile cases continue to drive legislative reviews. Some states are considering duty-to-retreat requirements in public spaces.
Arizona (2026-05-24): 2025-2026: Several states have debated Stand Your Ground expansions or restrictions. High-profile cases continue to drive legislative reviews. Some states are considering duty-to-retreat requirements in public spaces.
Arkansas (2026-05-24): 2025-2026: Several states have debated Stand Your Ground expansions or restrictions. High-profile cases continue to drive legislative reviews. Some states are considering duty-to-retreat requirements in public spaces.
California (2026-05-24): 2025-2026: Several states have debated Stand Your Ground expansions or restrictions. High-profile cases continue to drive legislative reviews. Some states are considering duty-to-retreat requirements in public spaces.
Colorado (2026-05-24): 2025-2026: Several states have debated Stand Your Ground expansions or restrictions. High-profile cases continue to drive legislative reviews. Some states are considering duty-to-retreat requirements in public spaces.
Connecticut (2026-05-24): 2025-2026: Several states have debated Stand Your Ground expansions or restrictions. High-profile cases continue to drive legislative reviews. Some states are considering duty-to-retreat requirements in public spaces.
Delaware (2026-05-24): 2025-2026: Several states have debated Stand Your Ground expansions or restrictions. High-profile cases continue to drive legislative reviews. Some states are considering duty-to-retreat requirements in public spaces.

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