A new law going into effect Saturday will make it easier for people in Mississippi to defend themselves against intruders.

A home invasion can be one of the most terrifying experiences of a lifetime. Starting this Saturday Mississippians will have more legal protection when defending themselves against intruders. A law passed this March assumes that a person using self defense against an intruder is acting properly, even when that self defense includes deadly force.

"A man is king in his own castle. It refines and expands, to some degree, the rights of a homeowner to use deadly force in his own home without the fear of prosecution," said Mississippi Rep. Greg Snowden of the law in March of 2006.

Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie says the right to use deadly force to defend yourself or your family has always been provided in the law. But under the new law a person does not have to retreat or try to run or get away before using deadly force. Plus, deadly force may be used in defense of a dwelling or a vehicle.

"Using deadly force to protect your person or your family member, that's a much easier choice to make, but to use deadly force to prevent someone from committing a property crime, that's going to be tough to live with in the future," said Sollie.

Sheriff Sollie says the new law provides more leeway for the general public than for a law enforcement officer in a theft or burglary situation, but he warns the public against using the law as an excuse for vigilante justice.

"Don't use this law to say, 'I'm going to stop crime in my community. If I see someone breaking into a home, if I see someone breaking into a car, I'm going to use a deadly weapon to keep this person from committing that crime,’" said Sollie.

Sheriff Sollie says you must be willing to live with the actions you take.