In most states,people are allowed to use some degree of force to protect their dwelling and the inhabitants.They may not set traps for intruders, and they are usually entitled to use only the force reasonably necessary under the circumstances to deter the intruder.Some states allow deadly force, however, without any requirement that the home occupant first attempt to escape,or “otherwise avoid using force with complete safety.”The defense is based on 500-year-old English court decisions that one's home is one's castle and entitled to defense. See castle—man's home as.