Self Defense Laws
What are the self defense laws regarding the use of force?
The law permits the use of proportionate and necessary force when a person believes that an unlawful force is being or about to be used on her. The self defense force must appear to be needed to prevent injury or death. Lawful pre-emptive self defense is striking first when a situation has reached a point of no return. Most self defense experts believe that if the circumstance is such that violence seems unavoidable the defender has a better chance of surviving by throwing the first blow and gaining the upper hand immediately to end the personal risk. The self defense force must appear to needed to prevent the attack and must be proportionate to the severity of the attack force. It is the responsibility of the threatened person to utilize all precautionary measures to prevent the attack. When someone pokes you in the chest, you can't whip out a gun and blow him away- you may want to, but that would be disproportionate to the attack. Also you can't use physical force in response to words unless the words are an immediate threat, such as, "I am about to shoot you!"(and the person displays a gun). It is illegal to hurt another person intentionally in the United States. If you hit someone, stab someone or kill someone and you're prosecuted for it and you don't deny it, it is a crime. If you can prove that you were legally justified you will be cleared. Establishing your guilt is the prosecution's job. Establishing justification is your burden of proof, under self defense laws. Click here to read more on the legalities of self defense :
State Laws
Civil Law
Non-Lethal Self Defense Force
Lethal Self Defense Force
Defense of Property
Defense of Others
Martial Artists Liability
Right of Self Defense
Castle Doctrine Laws
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