GOP Rep. Gaetz, Sen. Mullin introduce national 'Stand Your Ground' Act

Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz and Oklahoma GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin on Thursday announced a National "Stand Your Ground Act of 2023" to strengthen the right to self defense at the federal level.

The bill expressly disavows any "duty to retreat," which would require citizens to attempt to remove themselves from a potentially violent situation prior to using force for self defense. It further explicitly empowers individuals to use non-lethal force should they deem it necessary.

"A person is justified in using, threatening, or attempting to use force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against an agressor’s [sic] imminent use of unlawful force," the bill reads. "A person who uses or threatens to use force in accordance with this paragraph does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use such force."

The bill establishes a higher threshold for the use of lethal force.

"A person is justified in using, threatening, or attempting to use deadly force if he or she reasonably believes that using, threatening, or attempting to use such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony," it continues.

"Every American has the right to defend themselves and their loved ones from an attacker," Gaetz said in a press release. "If someone tries to kill you, you should have the right to return fire and preserve your life. It’s time to reaffirm in law what exists in our Constitution and in the hearts of our fellow Americans. We must abolish the legal duty of retreat everywhere."

Mullin, meanwhile, pointed to comparable laws at the state level and asserted that "[e]very American should have the right to defend himself or herself against imminent threats to personal safety without the duty to retreat."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.