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A.R.S. § 13-407: Defense of Premises

Justification; use of physical force in defense of premises

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A person lawfully in possession or control of property may threaten or use physical force, but not deadly force except as allowed for defending people, when a reasonable person would believe it immediately necessary to stop a criminal trespass on that property, which includes any real property and any structure adapted for human residence or lodging whether occupied or not.

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Official text last checked against azleg.gov:

13-407. Justification; use of physical force in defense of premises

A. A person or his agent in lawful possession or control of premises is justified in threatening to use deadly physical force or in threatening or using physical force against another when and to the extent that a reasonable person would believe it immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of a criminal trespass by the other person in or upon the premises.

B. A person may use deadly physical force under subsection A only in the defense of himself or third persons as described in sections 13-405 and 13-406.

C. In this section, "premises" means any real property and any structure, movable or immovable, permanent or temporary, adapted for both human residence and lodging whether occupied or not.

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