In some states, while you can use self-defense, you do have a duty to retreat. The goal should always be to avoid a physical confrontation. Self-defense is supposed to be only a last resort when all else has failed. You have tried to avoid the conflict but were unable to do so.
In Georgia, however, there is not a duty to retreat. As long as you are somewhere that you are legally allowed to be, whether that is in public, at a friend’s house or in your own home, you can simply use self-defense against anyone who is an aggressor. You do not have to try to avoid the conflict. You can use reasonable physical force to defend yourself.
Does this apply to the defense of others?
Yes, there may be a scenario where you claim you were using self-defense to protect someone else, rather than just protecting yourself. This is still a valid use of self-defense under the law, and you do not have a duty to retreat.
That said, the other components still apply. You need to have a genuine belief that the other person is in physical danger. You still need to use reasonable force, depending on the level of threat that the individual is facing. You do not have to retreat from the confrontation, but you still should not be the initial aggressor who has caused that confrontation.
Legal defense options
If you are facing allegations that you have committed a violent crime, you may believe it was just an instance of self-defense, and you reacted to protect yourself or others. You may still be arrested, but this is why it is so important to understand how self-defense laws work and all of the legal defense options available to you at this time.