My name is Rob Raskin, and today I’d like to talk about what you should do if a stranger enters your homestead. As survivalists we are armed, but TEOTWAWKI has not happened yet, so there are still laws we need to follow in society. Many homesteaders and survivalists have questions about what is and is not legal to do if an intruder trespasses on your property. Each state has its own laws, and you will need to familiarize yourself with the laws in your state. Although we all agree that we’d do anything we needed to in order to protect our family, it’s best to know ahead of time what will keep you safe and what will end up with you in prison.
The Castle Doctrine
Not every state has Castle Doctrine laws, which means citizens have the right to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their private property by force when necessary, and in some cases this also includes deadly force.
States that have castle laws:
Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Washington, Texas, Utah, Nevada, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, and Georgia.
States that don’t, or have limited laws:
New York, South Dakota, Iowa, California, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Idaho, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
Before you risk being charged with murder or manslaughter or opening yourself up to a huge lawsuit, take steps to discourage intruders from entering your property. These can include putting up signs, getting a dog, putting up a fence, locking gates, and installing motion-activated lights and surveillance cameras.
Have you ever had to deal with a home intruder situation? What did you do? Let me, Rob Raskin, know in the comments!