A Washington state lawmaker has withdrawn a bill to limit self-defense rights after saying she received threats by telephone and email that have made her fear for her life.

House Bill 1012, filed last month by Democratic state Rep. Sherry Appleton, of Poulsbo, would have required a person to retreat from a dangerous confrontation if that person "knows or should know" that doing so would afford "complete safety."

Appleton said she pursued the bill in response to the Trayvon Martin shooting last February in Florida, in which the shooter, George Zimmerman, was initially not arrested because of that state's "stand your ground" law.

Washington is one of at least 29 states with no explicit duty to retreat.

Appleton's staff said the threats were non-specific but "very scary."