I have edited our Sticky on Duty to Retreat and "Stand Your Ground" to include the following:
There are two different "kinds" of Stand Your Ground laws.
In all states with such laws, the legal duty to retreat is obviated.
But in some states, juries may be instructed that, while, there was no legal duty to retreat, the jurors may consider whether retreat had been safely possible in judging whether the use of force had been reasonable under the circumstance. Failing the reasonableness states will negate a legal defense of self defense.
In other states, juries are instructed that the possibility of safe retreat may not be taken into account at all.
The distinction may or may not be evident in the code.
In all states with such laws, the legal duty to retreat is obviated.
But in some states, juries may be instructed that, while, there was no legal duty to retreat, the jurors may consider whether retreat had been safely possible in judging whether the use of force had been reasonable under the circumstance. Failing the reasonableness states will negate a legal defense of self defense.
In other states, juries are instructed that the possibility of safe retreat may not be taken into account at all.
The distinction may or may not be evident in the code.
