castle doctrine
Dwelling protection principle
Castle doctrine is a legal principle holding that people have no duty to retreat when threatened in their own home and may use force, including deadly force, to defend themselves against intruders.
The name invokes the idea that one's home is one's castle.
Laws vary by jurisdiction, with some extending protection to vehicles or workplaces.
The shooter's attorney argued castle doctrine applied since the victim had forced entry.
Protecting oneself from harm
- stand your groundRefuse to back down
- justifiable homicideLegally sanctioned taking of life
- immunity from prosecutionExemption from criminal proceedings
- burden of proofDuty to prove allegations
legal defense · reasonable force · deadly force · property rights · legal justification · legal precedent · affirmative defense · reasonable belief
Unlawful entrant on property
- burglarOne who breaks in
- home invaderOne who breaks in
- prowlerOne who lurks suspiciously
- assailantOne who attacks another
housebreaker · robber · unlawful entry · break-in · forced entry · intrusion · criminal trespass · threat
Projectile weapon using explosives
- armed responseWeaponized security reaction
- lethal forceViolence that kills
- non-lethalNot causing death
- warning shotIntentionally missed shot conveying threat
homeowner · occupant · resident · deterrent · confrontation · escalation · shooting · weapon
self-defense
Protecting oneself from harm
- stand your groundRefuse to back down
- justifiable homicideLegally sanctioned taking of life
- immunity from prosecutionExemption from criminal proceedings
burden of proof · legal defense · reasonable force · deadly force · property rights · legal justification · legal precedent · affirmative defense · reasonable belief · imminent threat
trespasser
Unlawful entrant on property
- burglarOne who breaks in
- home invaderOne who breaks in
- prowlerOne who lurks suspiciously
assailant · housebreaker · robber · unlawful entry · break-in · forced entry · intrusion · criminal trespass · threat · aggressor
firearm
Projectile weapon using explosives
- armed responseWeaponized security reaction
- lethal forceViolence that kills
- non-lethalNot causing death
warning shot · homeowner · occupant · resident · deterrent · confrontation · escalation · shooting · weapon · protection
home
One's personal residence
- residencePlace one inhabits
- habitationPlace where people live
- domicilePermanent legal residence
workplace · curtilage · property · threshold · premises · household · abode
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- gun lawsgun control, gun rights, gun laws, gun safety, gun permits
- Legal mythsMiranda rights, entrapment, undercover cops, double jeopardy, insanity plea
- legal defensesself-defense, alibi, affirmative defense, insanity defense, insanity
- firearmsrifle, pistol, handgun, shotgun, revolver
- privacyprivacy, private, seclusion, confidentiality, solitude