24 States Have 'Stand Your Ground' Laws

Trayvon Martin shooting brings them renewed attention
By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 25, 2012 11:38 AM CDT
24 States Have 'Stand Your Ground' Laws
Wearing a hoodie and holding a rose, a person attends a rally for Trayvon Martin yesterday.   (AP Photo/Roberto Gonzalez)

The shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin has brought renewed scrutiny to Florida's "stand your ground" law on self-defense. In many states, a person who feels threatened in a public place is legally obligated to attempt to flee before deadly force can be used. Not so in Florida or, as ProPublica reports, in 23 other states. The particulars vary from state to state, as do the names, but all generally do away with the "duty to retreat." Click here for a state-by-state rundown. (In the Trayvon case, shooter George Zimmerman's lawyer doesn't think "stand your ground" is applicable.)

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