CHARLOTTE, NC -- Unlike North Carolina's current Castle Doctrine which applies only to homes, the revised law now applies to vehicles and places of work. Taking effect on Thursday, December 1, North Carolina's new "Castle Doctrine" law, will address specific circumstances under which a person can legally shoot or use deadly force against another.

The new law is longer and says when deadly force is permissible.

Under the new law, the lawful occupant of a home, motor vehicle or workplace isn't required to retreat prior to using deadly force. The law presumes that a person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter one of these locations intends to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence.

The old "Castle Doctrine" law says "A lawful occupant within a home or other place of residence is justified in using any degree of force that the occupant reasonably believes is necessary, including deadly force, against an intruder to prevent a forcible entry into the home or residence or to terminate the intruder's unlawful entry if the occupant reasonably apprehends that the intruder may kill or inflict serious bodily harm to the occupant or others in the home or residence, or if the occupant reasonably believes that the intruder intends to commit a felony in the home or residence."

The new law also modifies rules of self-defense and defense of others.