Stand Your Ground (Photo credit: Seattle.roamer)

As we continue to reflect on not-guilty Trayvon Martin trial verdict, the controversial stand your ground law that aided in George Zimmerman’s defense has come to the forefront of the discussion.

But what exactly is stand your ground? In which states is it the law? What are its implications? Below, find your stand your ground cheat sheet.

Historically, the U.S has mandated a duty to retreat, which requires a person facing immediate danger to retreat before resorting to violent self-defense. Essentially, stand your ground revokes the duty to retreat, and instead allows the use of force without the initial attempt to retreat. The logic behind these laws is that it will clarify and validate the use of force in self-defense, even if no attempt to retreat was made. In many states, stand your ground law offers immunity from prosecution; a person could avoid trial all together under stand your ground.

People who feel stand your ground is just argue that individuals in a compromising situation should not have to worry about retreating before defending themselves for fear of how it will appear in trial later. Opponents, who often refer to stand your ground as “shoot first,” believe the law endorses unnecessary violence and results in erroneous injuries and deaths, like Trayvon Martin’s.

There are states whose legislatures have enacted specific stand your ground laws that absolve individuals of the duty to retreat. Other states have adopted stand your ground doctrines through interpretation of their self-defense laws.

Read More 411 On Stand Your Ground: Which 26 States Have It & What Does It Mean? | Global Grind.