OldMarksman
Staff
Posted by Skans: That [going inside the house] 's the one thing I'm not going to do. It's my land and I have no intention of ever retreating on my own land.
Retreating? Are you under attack?
Actually, the OP is not on his "own land"--he's in a relative's front yard.
Well said.Maybe not the smartest thing,...
"Stand his ground?" Why? Is it an ego thing?...but a guy has to decide when he's going to stand his ground.
I would go inside if it started to rain heavily, if large hailstones started to come down, if the police were engaged in a stand-off up the street, or to get a drink of water. I wouldn't consider it "retreating." Nor would I see any reason to "stand my ground," should going inside be the best way to avoid an interaction with someone with an apparent behavioral disorder who just may be infected with something incurable.
However, since you have brought up the subject of retreat, where I live I do have a duty to retreat if i am threatened, if it is possible to do so safely, unless I am in my domicile or automobile. It's not in the statute but the duty exists.
If that duty did not exist, and if retreat were safely possible, I would nonetheless retreat if I were endangered by an assailant. It's safer legally, it's better tactically, it's probably a whole lot cheaper, and doing otherwise proves nothing for me.