All articles tagged with #castle doctrine
An Indiana woman was fatally shot by a homeowner after she mistakenly went to the wrong address to clean, raising questions about the state's castle doctrine laws that permit deadly force in self-defense of one's home.
A house cleaner was shot and killed after mistakenly going to the wrong house in Whitestown, Indiana, raising questions about the application of the castle doctrine laws; authorities are considering whether to charge the homeowner, with the investigation ongoing.
Recent shootings have reignited the debate over "stand your ground" and "castle doctrine" self-defense laws. These laws give a person the right to use lethal force outside of their home when they reasonably perceive a threat is present. At least 28 states and Puerto Rico have some form of a self-defense law that does not require a person to retreat from an attacker if they are in a place lawfully. The recent shootings highlight the complexity of the laws and how easily they can be misinterpreted.
The recent shootings of a teenager in Missouri and a woman in New York have brought attention to self-defense laws in the US. About 30 states have "stand your ground" laws that allow individuals to use force in self-defense without retreating in any location where they have the right to be. Critics argue that these laws make it too easy to claim self-defense and promote violence, while proponents say they allow citizens to keep themselves safe. The castle doctrine, which allows people to protect their homes with deadly force, is also used in some states.