<P> At common law, self - defense claims are not valid if the defendant could have safely retreated from danger (duty to retreat). The castle doctrine is an exception to this . It gives immunity from liability to individuals who acted in self - defense in the home even if they could have safely retreated from the threat and failed to do so . The duty to retreat is a legal requirement in some jurisdictions that a threatened person cannot stand one's ground and apply lethal force in self - defense, but must retreat to a place of safety instead . Deadly force or lethal force is force with the intent of serious bodily injury or death to another person . In most jurisdictions it is only accepted under conditions of extreme necessity and last resort . </P> <P> Stand - your - ground laws eliminate the retreat requirement at any location the defendant has a legal right to be, though this varies from state to state . </P> <P> The states that have legislatively adopted stand - your - ground laws are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming . </P> <P> The states that have adopted stand - your - ground in practice, either through case law / precedent, jury instructions or by other means, are California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington . </P>

What states have the stand your ground law
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