n the United States, the defense of self-defense allows a person to use reasonable force in his or her own defense or the defense of others (see the theoretical background for why this is allowed). On a federal level, self defense is legal only in response to An affirmative, unlawful act reasonably calculated to produce an affray foreboding injurious or fatal consequences. [1] The definition of legal self defense on a state level often varies significantly from this definition and from other states, but each state makes an important distinction between the use of non-deadly and deadly force. A person may use non-deadly force to prevent imminent injury; however, a person may not use deadly force unless that person is in reasonable fear of serious injury or death. Some states also include a duty to retreat, when deadly force may only be used if the person is unable to safely retreat. A person is generally not obligated to retreat if in ones own home in what has been called the castle exception (from the expression A mans home is his castle). Runyan v. State (1877) 57 Ind. 80, 20 Am.Rep. 52, is one of the earliest cases to strongly support and establish in U.S. law an individuals right to initiate self-defense actions up to and including the justifiable use of lethal force against an aggressor. In Runyan, the court stated When a person, being without fault, is in a place where he has a right to be, is violently assaulted, he may, without retreating, repel by force, and if, in the reasonable exercise of his right of self defense, his assailant is killed, he is justiciable
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 00:17:38 +0000
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