What is the Make My Day statute in Colorado?

In my CCW classes I almost always get asked about self-defense within the home.

“If someone broke down my door, do I have the right to shoot them?”  “What if they see me and turn to run out of the house, but I’m able to shoot them in the back before they exit the house.  I'm still covered under the “Make My Day Law” right?”

These are all loaded (no pun intended) questions, so to help you decide if you should shoot to defend, Here is the “Colorado Make My Day Law” for you to read.

Colorado’s Make My Day Law is codified in CRS 18-1-704.5, which states that:

(1) The general assembly hereby recognizes that the citizens of Colorado have a right to expect absolute safety within their own homes.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 18-1-704, any occupant of a dwelling is justified in using any degree of physical force, including deadly physical force, against another person when that other person has made an unlawful entry into the dwelling, and when the occupant has a reasonable belief that such other person has committed a crime in the dwelling in addition to the uninvited entry, or is committing or intends to commit a crime against a person or property in addition to the uninvited entry, and when the occupant reasonably believes that such other person might use any physical force, no matter how slight, against any occupant.

(3) Any occupant of a dwelling using physical force, including deadly physical force, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall be immune from criminal prosecution for the use of such force.

(4) Any occupant of a dwelling using physical force, including deadly physical force, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall be immune from any civil liability for injuries or death resulting from the use of such force.

(5) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “dwelling” does not include any place of habitation in a detention facility, as defined in section 18-8-211 (4).

I hope this helps you to have a better understanding of how you can protect yourself.