Arizona Armed Self-Defense Laws
Self-defense 13-404
A person is justified in threatening or using physical force against another when and to the extent a reasonable person would believe that physical force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful physical force.
The threat or use of physical force against another is not justified:
Use of deadly force 13-405
A person is justified in threatening or using deadly physical force against another:
No duty to retreat (Stand Your Ground)
A person has no duty to retreat before threatening or using deadly physical force pursuant to this section if the person is in a place where the person may legally be and is not engaged in an unlawful act.
Defense of a third person 13-406
A person is justified in threatening or using physical force against another when and to the extent a reasonable person would believe that physical force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful physical force.
The threat or use of physical force against another is not justified:
- In response to verbal provocation alone; or
- To resist an arrest, unless the physical force used by the peace officer exceeds that allowed by law; or
- If the person provoked the other's use or attempted use of unlawful physical force, unless:
- The person withdraws from the encounter or clearly communicates to the other his intent to do so reasonably believing he cannot safely withdraw from the encounter; and
- The other nevertheless continues or attempts to use unlawful physical force against the person.
Use of deadly force 13-405
A person is justified in threatening or using deadly physical force against another:
- If justified in threatening or using physical force against the other under section 13-404 (see above), and
- When and to the degree a reasonable person would believe that deadly physical force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful deadly physical force.
No duty to retreat (Stand Your Ground)
A person has no duty to retreat before threatening or using deadly physical force pursuant to this section if the person is in a place where the person may legally be and is not engaged in an unlawful act.
Defense of a third person 13-406
A person is justified in threatening or using physical force or deadly physical force against another to protect a third person if, under the circumstances as a reasonable person would believe them to be, such person would be justified under section 13-404 or 13-405 in threatening or using physical force or deadly physical force to protect himself against the unlawful physical force or deadly physical force a reasonable person would believe is threatening the third person he seeks to protect.
Defending a premises (home, building, real property) 13-407
A person or his agent in lawful possession or control of premises is justified in threatening to use deadly physical force when a reasonable person would believe it immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of a trespass, which deadly force would otherwise be justified (see 13-405 above).
Use of physical force in defense of property 13-408
Deadly force is not permitted to prevent theft or vandalism except when deadly force would otherwise be justified (see 13-405 above).
Use of force to prevent a crime 13-411
A person is justified in threatening or using both physical force and deadly physical force against another if is immediately necessary to prevent:
A person or his agent in lawful possession or control of premises is justified in threatening to use deadly physical force when a reasonable person would believe it immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of a trespass, which deadly force would otherwise be justified (see 13-405 above).
Use of physical force in defense of property 13-408
Deadly force is not permitted to prevent theft or vandalism except when deadly force would otherwise be justified (see 13-405 above).
Use of force to prevent a crime 13-411
A person is justified in threatening or using both physical force and deadly physical force against another if is immediately necessary to prevent:
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Castle Doctrine
There is no duty to retreat before threatening or using physical force or deadly physical force justified. This section includes the use or threatened use of physical force or deadly physical force in a person's home, residence, place of business, land the person owns or leases, conveyance of any kind, or any other place in this state where a person has a right to be.
No civil liability for justified conduct 13-413
No person in this state shall be subject to civil liability for engaging in conduct otherwise justified pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
Suit must be dismissed 12-716
A victim is presumed to be acting reasonably if the victim threatens to use or uses force to protect himself or another person against use or attempted use of physical force or deadly physical force. A court must dismiss a suit brought against someone who legally uses force in self-defense when requested by the defendant. This applies to family members or the estate of the deceased person who files suit.
Use of force in a home or vehicle 13-418
A person is justified in threatening to use or using physical force or deadly physical force against another in imminent peril of death or serious physical injury and the attacker was in the process of unlawfully or forcefully entering, or had unlawfully or forcefully entered, a residence or occupied vehicle, or had removed or was attempting to remove another person against the other person's will from the residence or occupied vehicle.
Exemptions 13-419
A person who uses deadly force to defend a residence or vehicle cannot be engaged in an unlawful activity or is using the residential structure or occupied vehicle to further an unlawful activity.
Force cannot be used against:
Defensive display of a firearm 13-421
The defensive display of a firearm by a person against another is justified when and to the extent a reasonable person would believe that physical force is immediately necessary to protect against the use or attempted use of unlawful physical force or deadly physical force. This includes:
There is no duty to retreat before threatening or using physical force or deadly physical force justified. This section includes the use or threatened use of physical force or deadly physical force in a person's home, residence, place of business, land the person owns or leases, conveyance of any kind, or any other place in this state where a person has a right to be.
No civil liability for justified conduct 13-413
No person in this state shall be subject to civil liability for engaging in conduct otherwise justified pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
Suit must be dismissed 12-716
A victim is presumed to be acting reasonably if the victim threatens to use or uses force to protect himself or another person against use or attempted use of physical force or deadly physical force. A court must dismiss a suit brought against someone who legally uses force in self-defense when requested by the defendant. This applies to family members or the estate of the deceased person who files suit.
Use of force in a home or vehicle 13-418
A person is justified in threatening to use or using physical force or deadly physical force against another in imminent peril of death or serious physical injury and the attacker was in the process of unlawfully or forcefully entering, or had unlawfully or forcefully entered, a residence or occupied vehicle, or had removed or was attempting to remove another person against the other person's will from the residence or occupied vehicle.
Exemptions 13-419
A person who uses deadly force to defend a residence or vehicle cannot be engaged in an unlawful activity or is using the residential structure or occupied vehicle to further an unlawful activity.
Force cannot be used against:
- A lawful resident , including an owner, lessee, invitee or titleholder, unless that person has a restraining order against them;
- Is the parent or grandparent, or has legal custody or guardianship, of a child or grandchild sought to be removed;
- A law enforcement officer in the performance of official duties.
Defensive display of a firearm 13-421
The defensive display of a firearm by a person against another is justified when and to the extent a reasonable person would believe that physical force is immediately necessary to protect against the use or attempted use of unlawful physical force or deadly physical force. This includes:
- Verbally informing another person that the person possesses or has available a firearm;
- Exposing or displaying a firearm in a manner that a reasonable person would understand was meant to protect the person;
- Placing a hand on a firearm while the firearm is contained in a pocket, purse or other means of containment or transport.
- Intentionally provokes another person to use or attempt to use unlawful physical force;
- Uses a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Arizona Jury Instructions
4.04 − Justification for Self-Defense
A defendant may use deadly physical force in self-defense only to protect against another’s use or apparent attempted or threatened use of deadly physical force.
Self-defense justifies the use or threat of physical force or deadly physical force only while the apparent danger continues, and it ends when the apparent danger ends. The force used may not be greater than reasonably necessary to defend against the apparent danger.
The use of physical force is justified if a reasonable person in the situation would have reasonably believed that immediate physical danger appeared to be present. Actual danger is not necessary to justify the use of physical force in self-defense.
4.11 − Use of Force in Crime Prevention
There is no duty to retreat before threatening or using deadly physical force. There is no requirement that any threat to the defendant’s safety exist before the defendant may use physical force and/or deadly physical force. However, physical force and/or deadly physical force can be used only to the extent it appears reasonable and immediately necessary to prevent commission of the crime.
The defendant’s use or threatened use of physical or deadly force is not limited to a person’s home, residence, place of business, land the person owns or leases, or conveyance of any kind, but includes any place in this state where a person has a right to be.
The defendant is presumed to have acted reasonably if the defendant reasonably believed he or she was acting to prevent the imminent or actual commission of a crime.
4.19 − Justification: Presumption and Exceptions
A person is presumed to reasonably believe that the threat or use of physical force or deadly force is immediately necessary for justification if the person knows or has reason to believe that the person against whom physical force or deadly force is threatened or used is unlawfully or forcefully entering or has unlawfully or forcefully entered and is present in the person's residential structure or occupied vehicle.
For the purposes of justification, a person who is unlawfully or forcefully entering or who has unlawfully or forcefully entered and is present in a residential structure or occupied vehicle is presumed to pose an imminent threat of unlawful deadly harm to any person who is in the residential structure or occupied vehicle.
A defendant may use deadly physical force in self-defense only to protect against another’s use or apparent attempted or threatened use of deadly physical force.
Self-defense justifies the use or threat of physical force or deadly physical force only while the apparent danger continues, and it ends when the apparent danger ends. The force used may not be greater than reasonably necessary to defend against the apparent danger.
The use of physical force is justified if a reasonable person in the situation would have reasonably believed that immediate physical danger appeared to be present. Actual danger is not necessary to justify the use of physical force in self-defense.
4.11 − Use of Force in Crime Prevention
There is no duty to retreat before threatening or using deadly physical force. There is no requirement that any threat to the defendant’s safety exist before the defendant may use physical force and/or deadly physical force. However, physical force and/or deadly physical force can be used only to the extent it appears reasonable and immediately necessary to prevent commission of the crime.
The defendant’s use or threatened use of physical or deadly force is not limited to a person’s home, residence, place of business, land the person owns or leases, or conveyance of any kind, but includes any place in this state where a person has a right to be.
The defendant is presumed to have acted reasonably if the defendant reasonably believed he or she was acting to prevent the imminent or actual commission of a crime.
4.19 − Justification: Presumption and Exceptions
A person is presumed to reasonably believe that the threat or use of physical force or deadly force is immediately necessary for justification if the person knows or has reason to believe that the person against whom physical force or deadly force is threatened or used is unlawfully or forcefully entering or has unlawfully or forcefully entered and is present in the person's residential structure or occupied vehicle.
For the purposes of justification, a person who is unlawfully or forcefully entering or who has unlawfully or forcefully entered and is present in a residential structure or occupied vehicle is presumed to pose an imminent threat of unlawful deadly harm to any person who is in the residential structure or occupied vehicle.