Mississippi’s Stand Your Ground law allows individuals to defend themselves with deadly force without the obligation to retreat, as long as they are in a place where they have a legal right to be. This statute, part of the state’s broader self-defense framework, works alongside the Castle Doctrine to ensure people can protect themselves in both public and private spaces.
How the Law Works
No Duty to Retreat
Under Mississippi law, individuals can use deadly force without retreating, provided they are not the initial aggressor and are in a lawful location. Juries are prohibited from considering a person’s failure to retreat as evidence against them in self-defense claims.
Justifiable Homicide
The law considers the killing of another person justifiable in specific circumstances, such as when someone is resisting an unlawful threat to their life or property. This applies to incidents in one’s home, vehicle, or workplace……