In 2011, over the objection of myself and many of our colleagues in the General Assembly, Pennsylvania passed its own “Stand Your Ground” law.  
 
In 2018, the nonpartisan RAND Corporation released a comprehensive report that found, in part, that “Stand Your Ground” laws are linked to more violent crime, particularly homicides, and that they do not prevent violent crime.
 
In fact, a 2017 study showed that Florida experienced a 32% increase in firearm homicides following the enactment of that state’s “Stand Your Ground” law in 2005. In comparison, states without this law experienced an 8% increase in firearm homicides after 2005.
 
The RAND report also found evidence that gun violence prevention measures — particularly background checks and safe storage of firearms laws — reduce bad outcomes, including violent crime, suicides, and childhood injuries and deaths.
 
Under my legislation, Pennsylvania would re-establish its “Duty to Retreat” law, which states that a person facing a dangerous threat outside of their home must retreat or try to resolve the situation by non-violent means if it’s safe to do so, with the use of force only legally available as a last resort.
 
It is time we take an evidence-based approach to our gun policy. “Stand Your Ground” laws encourage gun violence. As such, it is time that we repeal “Stand Your Ground” here in Pennsylvania.  
 
This is a reintroduction of SB 424 of last session, which was co-sponsored by Senators Cappelletti, Kearney, Street, Collett, Kane, Tartaglione, Muth, Costa, and A. Williams.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to re-establish Pennsylvania’s “Duty to Retreat” law.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 825 (May 22, 2025): 18-505(b)(1), 18-2), 18-2.2), 18-2.3), 18-2.4)