Can you legally shoot trespassers in Alabama?

Answer 1

In Alabama, you can not just shoot someone for stepping on your property. Alabama is a Castle Doctrine state and has a Stand Your Ground law. According to the law, "a person may use deadly physical force, and is legally presumed to be justified in using deadly physical force in self-defense or the defense of another person, if the person reasonably believes that another person is:(1) Using or about to use unlawful deadly physical force.(2) Using or about to use physical force against an occupant of a dwelling while committing or attempting to commit a burglary of such dwelling."

Answer 2

NO.ONLY if your life is threatened -READ ON-

17-year-old Trayvon Martin's death shines a spotlight on "Stand Your Ground" laws across the U.S. In Alabama, it's also called the "Castle Law."

Alabama is among 20 states in the nation that uphold the Stand Your Ground law.

Legal analyst Mark McDaniel says our state's Castle Law is similar to Florida's, and hinges on this principal.

"If a person is forcefully breaking into your house, you do not have to retreat; you can stand your guard and use deadly physical force in Alabama, said McDaniel.

In 2006, the castle doctrine removed the duty to retreat. As of today, the Castle Law says you could retaliate against any attacker who threatens your life immediately.

"When you are in a situation defending your life, you have seconds. You don't have a minute. You have a second to make that decision," said McDaniel.

The Castle Law also applies to kidnapping, sexual assault, burglaries and any situation that the victim reasonably believes will cause deadly harm. But it doesn't stop there.

"As long as you have a right to be where you are, if you're in a convenience store for example, or you're in a Wal-Mart and somebody starts running amok, you have the right to protect other people," said David Shuford, North Alabama Firearms Training.

Shuford is a firearms trainer in Athens. He says these split-second self-defense decisions come with some responsibility.

"Using a gun against another person is a last resort. You do everything else first; warn them, then you try to stop them through other means," said Shuford.

McDaniel Says in Alabama, a jury ultimately decides whether a self-defense situation is justified.

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