The Ugly Truth About Alabama’s Stand Your Ground Law

The worst feeling in the world has got to be when you feel you or someone you care about is in danger. We would all do whatever it takes to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Some would even use deadly force if we felt the situation called for it.

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We are given the right to use deadly force under the code of Alabama. The law says a person is justified in using physical force when they reasonably believe their life or a third party's life is in danger.

However, does this mean you always have the right to use deadly or physical force anytime someone breaks into your residence under Alabama’s stand-your-ground law?

A recent incident that took place in Huntsville has raised some concerning questions.

A man was shot while trying to break into a home. The suspect was taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries and will be transported and booked into the Madison County Jail.

Question raised:

Does the stand-your-ground law cover a person in all situations when using deadly force?

The simple answer is that it depends.

If a suspect is shot through a closed door, the stand-your-ground law may or may not justify the use of deadly force. That would be a question to be presented to a jury to decide.

However, the truth of the matter is that if the evidence shows that a person used deadly force to protect property only, they will not be covered by the stand-your-ground law as it is presently written.