You’ve probably heard about ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws. They’re the laws that say if you’re in danger, you don’t have to retreat. In other words, you can stand your ground and protect yourself.
It sounds simple, right?
But these laws have also stirred up a ton of debate. Some people say they’re vital for keeping innocent folks safe, while others argue they will only lead to more violence.
Here’s the thing: when it comes to self-defense, these laws give law-abiding citizens like yourself the confidence to act without hesitation. If you’re in a life-or-death situation, the last thing you should worry about is whether the law will have your back. That’s exactly what makes ‘Stand Your Ground’ so important.
But the reality is, not every case is clear-cut. Some end in convictions and others in acquittals, but every situation still tells its own story. In this article, we’re going to break it all down.
What Are ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws?
‘Stand Your Ground’ laws are about one thing: your right to protect yourself without having to run away first.
If you’re in a situation where someone is threatening your life or safety, these laws say you can fight back (even with deadly force if necessary) and without worrying about whether you should have tried to escape instead.
This idea isn’t exactly new. It started with the “Castle Doctrine,” which says you don’t have to retreat when you’re defending yourself at home.
Over time, that concept grew, and states began saying you don’t have to back down in other places beyond your home (like a parking lot, a park, or even a street). Florida kicked things off with the first modern ‘Stand Your Ground’ law in 2005, and since then, a lot of other states have followed.
To be clear, ‘Stand Your Ground’ is not in effect in all states. In some states, you’re expected to try to get away from a dangerous situation before using force. That’s called the “duty to retreat.”
But in states with ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws, you don’t have to do that. If you’re where you’re legally allowed to be and someone threatens you, you can defend yourself without having to think, “Could I have just run away?”
Right now, over half the states in the U.S. have ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws in some form.
If you’ve been following law firm news at all, you’ve no doubt come across self-defense cases that may have involved ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws before. Below, we’ll dive into three fairly recent court cases where Stand Your Ground was involved. As we’ll soon see, it doesn’t always go so well for people who invoke it.
Case Studies
Here are three relatively recent court cases involving stand your ground laws and what happened in each:
Michael Drejka’s Conviction (Florida, 2019)
Let’s start with a parking lot dispute in Clearwater, Florida, that escalated into a national conversation about Stand Your Ground’ laws and self-defense as a whole.
It all started over something as simple as a parking space. In July 2018, Michael Drejka confronted Britany Jacobs for parking in a handicapped spot without a permit. Markeis McGlockton, who was Jacobs’ boyfriend, came out of a nearby convenience store and saw the argument. He approached Drejka, pushed him to the ground, and started to back away.
That’s when Drejka pulled out a gun and shot McGlockton in the chest. McGlockton later died at the hospital.
Drejka immediately claimed self-defense under Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law. He told police he feared for his life after McGlockton shoved him, and that’s why initially no charges were filed. After all, ‘Stand Your Ground’ allows individuals to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it’s necessary to prevent serious harm or death.
But as the case gained media attention, prosecutors took a closer look. They argued that Drejka’s fear wasn’t reasonable. Surveillance footage showed McGlockton stepping back when Drejka fired the shot, which would clearly suggest that the threat was over. Prosecutors also highlighted Drejka’s history of aggressive confrontations in the same parking lot.
In August 2019, a jury rejected Drejka’s self-defense claim and found him guilty of manslaughter. The judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison, stating that Drejka’s actions went beyond what the law allows for self-defense.
This case is important because it clearly shows the limits of ‘Stand Your Ground.’ While the law protects individuals who genuinely fear for their lives, it doesn’t give a free pass to use deadly force in all situations!
Marc Wilson’s Conviction (Georgia, 2022)
In June 2020, William Marcus “Marc” Wilson and his girlfriend were driving through Statesboro, Georgia, late at night.
According to Wilson, a group of white teens in a pickup truck began harassing them and yelling out racial slurs. Feeling threatened, Wilson fired his legally owned handgun at the truck. One of the bullets tragically struck and killed 17-year-old Haley Hutcheson, who was a passenger in the truck.
Wilson claimed he acted in self-defense under Georgia’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law, because he argued that he believed his life and his girlfriend’s life were in danger. The defense presented evidence of the harassment and the escalating aggression from the teens in the truck.
Despite his defense, the jury convicted Wilson of involuntary manslaughter in August 2022, a lesser charge than the original felony murder charge. While the verdict acknowledged that Wilson’s actions were not premeditated, it also indicated that the jury did not fully accept his ‘Stand Your Ground’ claim.
As a result, Wilson was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Susan Lorincz’s Conviction (Florida, 2024)
Here’s a case that really puts the spotlight on how ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws can be tested (and rejected) when the evidence doesn’t add up.
In June of 2023, Susan Lorincz (a 60-year-old woman from Ocala, Florida) shot her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, through a closed door. The whole thing started over a heated dispute about Owens’ kids playing outside.
Lorincz had a history of arguing with the children, and things came to a head when she reportedly threw a roller skate at one of them. Owens went to confront Lorincz over the incident, and that’s when Lorincz fired her gun through the door, killing Owens.
Lorincz claimed she was terrified and acted in self-defense under Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law. She argued that she felt threatened by Owens banging on her door and believed she had no other choice.
But prosecutors weren’t buying it. They argued that Lorincz’s actions were driven by anger and not fear. They pointed out that she had a history of harassing Owens’ kids and that Owens wasn’t forcing her way inside or posing an immediate threat at all. In fact, the door was closed, and there was no sign that Owens was even armed in the first place.
In August of 2024, the jury convicted Lorincz of manslaughter and rejected her ‘Stand Your Ground’ defense. She now faces up to 25 years in prison.
The Continuing Debate Over ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws
These criminal defense cases show that while ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws have been around for a while, they’re still a hot topic and it’s not always so clean cut in regards to what will happen.
The main thing to realize is that claiming Stand Your Ground after you’ve shot somebody, even if you believe that you were acting justifiably, will not always go your way in the courtroom.
But let’s be clear: when these laws are used the way they’re meant to be, they make perfect sense. If you’re in a situation where someone is threatening your life or the safety of others, and there’s no way to safely avoid it, ‘Stand Your Ground’ allows you to defend yourself without hesitation.
So, when can you claim ‘Stand Your Ground’? In general, it applies if:
- You’re in a place you’re legally allowed to be. Whether you’re at home, in your car, at work, or walking down the street, as long as you’re there lawfully, this law has your back.
- You’re facing a real and immediate threat. This is key. It has to be a situation where a reasonable person would believe they’re about to face serious bodily harm or death. A heated argument or minor scuffle usually won’t cut it.
- You didn’t start the fight. If you’re the aggressor, it’s going to be tough to convince anyone that you acted in self-defense. It’s that simple.
Where people sometimes get tripped up is in that middle ground: when the threat isn’t so clear-cut.
For example, if someone is walking toward you aggressively but hasn’t actually laid a hand on you, can you claim you felt an imminent threat?
That’s where things can get murky and why evidence, like video footage or witness testimony, is so important in these cases.
‘Stand Your Ground’ works best when it’s used for what it was designed for: genuine and unavoidable self-defense. It’s not a license to escalate arguments or act recklessly. The law is there to protect you when you’re forced into a situation you didn’t ask for and have no safe way out of.
When it comes to defending yourself, purchasing a reliable handgun and self-defense ammunition is only one part of the equation. You also need to be acutely aware of the laws in your jurisdiction so you know when it is fully justified to act with legal force should the situation ever arise.
‘Stand Your Ground’ laws are a safety net to defend yourself when it’s truly justified. It’s not a license to kill!
Conclusion
‘Stand Your Ground’ laws make one thing clear: you have the right to protect yourself when you’re faced with a real threat. These laws are fundamentally built on the idea that you shouldn’t have to second-guess your actions in life-or-death situations, and for many people, that’s a vital protection.
But as we’ve seen through the real-life cases we explored above, things aren’t always so straightforward, and these laws don’t automatically guarantee a clean defense, and there
The debate over ‘Stand Your Ground’ is far from over.
