Gregory Kielma • June 27, 2025
“Castle Doctrine”
Know The Laws in YOUR State, Never ASSUME
Is it legal to shoot someone inside your home without warning if they break in?
Please understand your rights, contact a legal professional in your state and understand the law. Print out the law and have it ready if you become involved in a “reasonable person”, home invasion. Let’s look at Davids reasoning about a home invasion. This is what David had to say when he was questioned.
Most, not all states recognize the legal concept of “Castle Doctrine.” Even in California, but it is limited. New Jersey is a duty to retreat state, and that even includes in your own home. Some states recognize a duty to retreat in public, but not your home.
Essentially there are two parts to the basis for Castle Doctrine - your home is your Castle, and you have the right to defend it. The other part is if somebody breaks into an occupied dwelling, they have a plan to subdue or kill the occupants. Even some methods of subduing somebody can lead to bodily harm and even death - hitting them over the head with a club; tying them up and leaving them hoping somebody fries them before they die of dehydration; etc.
If Castle Doctrine is recognized in your state, therefore there is a reasonable fear of injury or death from somebody who has broken into your home, and you are not required to give a warning. You can assume they are armed, and a warning would only give them a chance to get the first shot. Warning shots are reckless discharges of a firearm.
The Castle Doctrine in Florida allows individuals to use or threaten to use deadly force to protect themselves in their homes without a duty to retreat.
Overview of the Florida Castle Doctrine
If you are reading this from another state, know your rights. It's incumbent on YOU to know your laws. Ignorance is not an excuse. Let's look at Florida's Castle Doctrine.
The Castle Doctrine is a legal principle that grants individuals the right to defend themselves against intruders in their homes, often referred to as their "castle." In Florida, this doctrine is codified in Florida Statute 776.013, which outlines the conditions under which a person may use deadly force in self-defense.
Key Provisions of Florida's Castle Doctrine
1. No Duty to Retreat:
Individuals have no obligation to retreat when they are in their dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle. They can stand their ground and use or threaten to use force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or others.
2. Presumption of Fear:
The law presumes that a person has a reasonable fear of imminent peril when using or threatening to use defensive force against someone unlawfully entering their home or vehicle. This presumption supports the justification for using deadly force in such situations.
3. Unlawful Entry:
The doctrine applies when a person unlawfully and forcibly enters a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle. In such cases, the individual is presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence.
4. Relationship with Stand Your Ground Law
In 2005, Florida expanded its self-defense laws with the Stand Your Ground statute, which further allows individuals to use deadly force without a duty to retreat, even in public places. While the Castle Doctrine specifically pertains to one's home, the Stand Your Ground law extends similar protections outside the home, allowing individuals to defend themselves in any location where they have a legal right to be.
Conclusion
The Castle Doctrine in Florida provides robust protection for individuals defending their homes against intruders. It emphasizes the right to use force without retreating, reinforcing the legal standing of self-defense in situations involving unlawful entry. Understanding these laws is crucial for anyone concerned about self-defense rights in Florida.
For specific legal advice or situations, consulting with a legal professional is recommended.
About Edward Bailey: Why We Should Support Edward Bailey for Manatee County Commissioner, District 2
Why We Should Support Edward Bailey for Manatee County Commissioner, District 2
John Dunn: A Grassroots Candidate Enters the Manatee County Commission Race
DOJ Announces Rulemaking Package Aimed At Protecting Second Amendment Freedoms
Why Every Home Should Have a Firearm for Personal Protection
3d Printed Firearms What are They and Are they Legal? Let's take a look
Being Prepared for the 2026 Hurricane Season By Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training & Firearms The 2026 Hurricane Season is shaping up to be another year where preparation isn’t optional it’s essential. Florida has seen record heat, rising insurance pressures, rapid population growth, and increasingly unpredictable storm behavior. None of that is meant to create fear. It’s meant to reinforce a simple truth: preparedness gives you control, confidence, and options when the weather turns. Whether you’re protecting a home, a business, or a family, the goal is the same build layers of readiness before the first storm forms. Start With Awareness and a Plan Storms don’t give you time to “figure it out later.” Your plan should be written, practiced, and known by everyone in the household or workplace. Key elements of a solid plan: Where will you go if evacuation becomes necessary Multiple routes out of your area A communication plan if cell networks fail A designated out‑of‑state contact A plan for pets, elderly family members, and anyone with medical needs For businesses, include: Who secures the building Who handles digital backups Who communicates closures and reopening A plan removes panic. It replaces it with action. Strengthen Your Home or Business Before the First Storm Florida structures take a beating every year. Small improvements now prevent major losses later. Exterior protection: Inspect your roof for loose shingles or soft spots Clear gutters and drainage paths Trim trees and remove dead limbs Install or test shutters Reinforce garage doors—one of the most common failure points Interior protection: Surge protection for critical electronics Elevate valuables and important documents Know how to shut off water, power, and gas If you own a business, walk your property as if you were a storm: What can break? What can blow away? What can flood? Fix those points now. Build a Realistic, Usable Supply Kit For Your Home or Business A hurricane kit isn’t about stockpiling, it’s about independence. After a major storm, help may take hours or days to reach your area. For homes and families: Water: 1 gallon per person per day (minimum 3–7 days) Non‑perishable food Medications and medical supplies Flashlights, headlamps, and batteries Battery bank for phones First aid kit Copies of important documents Cash in small bills Tools, gloves, tarps, duct tape For businesses: Backup power for essential systems Printed employee contact lists Hard copies of insurance documents A plan for securing inventory and equipment Preparedness isn’t about fear it’s about not being dependent on luck. Protect Your Digital Life In 2026, digital readiness is just as important as physical readiness. Back up important files to the cloud and an external drive Photograph your home, business, and valuables for insurance Store digital copies of IDs, insurance policies, and receipts Keep chargers, power banks, and a small solar panel if possible When the power goes out, your digital preparation keeps you moving. Understand Post‑Storm Safety Most injuries happen after the storm, not during it. Be cautious with: Downed power lines Flooded roads Carbon monoxide from generators Unstable structures Contaminated water If you evacuated, don’t rush home. Wait for official clearance. Your safety comes first. Mindset: Prepared, Not Paranoid Preparedness is a discipline, not a reaction. It’s the same mindset we teach in every Tactical K class awareness, planning, and responsible action. A hurricane is a natural event. Your response is a choice. When you prepare early, you protect: Your family Your property Your business Your peace of mind And you set an example for your community. Kielma’s Parting Shot The 2026 Hurricane Season will bring challenges, just like every season. But Floridians are resilient, and preparation is part of our way of life. Start now. Strengthen your home, your business, and your plan. Build your layers of safety before the first storm forms. If you need help building a plan, creating a checklist, or preparing your family or business, Tactical K Training is here to support you with practical, real‑world guidance.
Why You Should Never Travel Through High Water
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking Nine Firearms, Including to Buyer Who Said He Was ‘At War’ Thursday, April 30, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia WASHINGTON - Brandon Smith, 34, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison for conspiring to traffic at least nine firearms to a prohibited buyer over the course of six months, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Brandon Smith was already on supervised probation for a violent felony when he chose to traffic firearms, and he continued even after being told the buyer intended to use them for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Over the course of six months, he arranged the sale of at least nine guns—including one with an obliterated serial number—to a prohibited individual. This was not a momentary lapse in judgment, but a sustained and deliberate effort to arm someone who could not legally possess firearms. My office remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal guns.” On Jan. 9, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty before Judge Howell to conspiracy to commit trafficking in firearms. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 108-month prison term. According to court papers, beginning in November 2023, ATF opened an investigation after a confidential source reported that Smith, then on supervised probation for a violent felony, was actively advertising firearms for sale by texting photographs of guns to prospective buyers, including individuals with prior felony convictions. During the next six months, Smith sold or arranged the sale of nine firearms to a buyer on six separate occasions. During the transactions, Smith sold his own personal carry firearm on multiple occasions when a supplier failed to deliver, then purchased a replacement for himself afterward. In early January 2024, as Smith and the buyer discussed an upcoming transaction, the buyer told Smith he needed the firearms because he was “at war” after his cousin had been killed. Smith proceeded with the sale. The buyer had also told Smith he was serving a criminal justice sentence at the time of the transactions. Smith acknowledged that he, too, was “on papers.” Smith arranged a total of six transactions from Nov. 30, 2023, through May 30, 2024, resulting in the sale of nine firearms. At least one of the firearms had its serial number obliterated. On Oct. 26, 2024, MPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the 1600 block of 16th Street SE and found Smith in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Officers observed open containers of alcohol and discovered a satchel at his feet. Inside the satchel, in plain view, was a loaded Glock Model 19X 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber and 16 additional rounds in the magazine. The bag also contained a bank card and government-issued identification in Smith’s name. Smith has prior convictions for Simple Assault (2011), Attempted Robbery (2013), and Robbery and Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence (2016), for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was serving a term of supervised probation from the 2016 conviction at the time of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan. Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking
