Stand Your Ground in Tennessee
State-specific overview · Criminal Law
Tennessee grants stand-your-ground rights in homes, vehicles, and workplaces, plus any place you have a legal right to be.
How Tennessee treats Stand Your Ground
Tennessee law (TCA 39-11-611) allows use of force without duty to retreat when a person reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent death, serious bodily injury, or commission of a felony. The statute explicitly protects force used in your home, vehicle, or workplace, as well as any other place where you have a legal right to be. Importantly, Tennessee also provides civil immunity from lawsuits for justified use of force.
The general definition of Stand Your Ground
A law allowing a person to use force, including deadly force, to defend themselves without a duty to retreat.
Stand your ground laws permit a person to use force, including deadly force, to defend themselves against a threat without first trying to escape or avoid the danger. These laws eliminate the traditional legal duty to retreat before using force. They apply in places where a person has a legal right to be, such as their home, workplace, or public spaces. Stand your ground laws are controversial because they expand when people can legally use deadly force, and they vary significantly by state.
Read the full Stand Your Ground entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Tennessee.