What defines "Stand Your Ground" in Georgia & S.C.?

Monday, Feb. 27, 2017

(WRDW/WAGT) -- Georgia and South Carolina are among the 2 dozen states that have "Stand Your Ground" laws.

In Georgia,

a person who uses threats or force relating to the use of force in defense of self or others, relating to the use of force in defense of a habitation, or relating to the use of force in defense of property other than a habitation, has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and use force, including deadly force.

In South Carolina,

Stand Your Ground authorizes the lawful use of deadly force under certain circumstances against an intruder or attacker in a person’s dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle. The bill provides that there is no duty to retreat if the person is in a place where he has a right to be, including the person’s place of business, the person is not engaged in an unlawful activity, and the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent death, great bodily injury, or the commission of a violent crime. A person who lawfully uses deadly force is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action, unless the person against whom deadly force was used is a law enforcement officer acting in the performance of his official duties and he identifies himself in accordance with applicable law or the person using deadly force knows or reasonably should have known the person is a law enforcement officer.