What does removing the “duty to retreat” change?
Removing the duty to retreat takes the concept of castle doctrine and applies it to every location outside your home or car where you have a legal right to be.
Here’s the way the new law will read beginning April 6.
2901.09
(B) For purposes of any section of the Revised Code that sets forth a criminal offense, a person has no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of that person’s residence, if that person is in a place in which the person lawfully has a right to be.
(C) A trier of fact shall not consider the possibility of retreat as a factor in determining whether or not a person who used force in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of that person’s residence reasonably believed that the force was necessary to prevent injury, loss, or risk to life or safety.
In addition to this language dealing with criminal actions, there is also nearly identical language for civil actions.
Bottom line, if you can legally be in a place, you have no duty to retreat before using lethal force in self-defense. However, this does not change the standard for when use of lethal force is legally justified.
Essentially the law has now changed to no longer require you attempt to retreat before defending yourself. This does not mean, though, that you can deploy your firearm in more situations. You should still only deploy your firearm if you have a reasonable fear that you will be seriously harmed or killed if you do not defend yourself.
For more clarity and information follow the link below!
https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/no-duty-retreat-ohio-%E2%80%93-what-does-it-mean-you?fbclid=IwAR2pQvBDfPx0eBguUea8HIIumb7pglnLTgfnsJNFq4KZ8siyENu8W1rvjH0