Westside Assemblyman Wants to Get Rid of the Stand Your Ground Defense

Assembly Bill 1333, introduced by assemblyman Zbur, seeks to significantly restrict the ability of crime victims to claim self-defense. This legislation proposes to eliminate the right to defend oneself within one's home or property. Furthermore, it introduces a stipulation that individuals must retreat, if safely possible, before resorting to self-defense.

Under this new framework, if a person is outside their home and faces threats such as robbery or assault, they would be required to withdraw rather than defend themselves aggressively if the situation allows for it. This shift raises serious concerns about the implications for victims of violent crime. Critics argue that this bill further endangers individuals by potentially criminalizing their self-defense actions.

As California continues to grapple with crime, the move from lawmakers to impose such restrictions on victims is troubling. Many feel that this legislation favors criminals over law-abiding citizens.

There are other States where the stand your ground defense has been eliminated from the common law self defense justification for murder. As of now, several states have enacted "Stand Your Ground" laws that eliminate the common law requirement to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense. These laws allow individuals to use deadly force without the duty to retreat in situations where they have a right to be, and over half of U.S. states have adopted some form of these laws.

The following states have enacted "Stand Your Ground" laws that eliminate the duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense:

Florida; Texas; Georgia; Alabama; Mississippi; Louisiana; South Carolina; Tennessee; Indiana; Kentucky; Missouri; North Carolina; Ohio; West Virginia; Arkansas; South Dakota; Utah; Wyoming.