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href="#Moral_theory"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Moral theory</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Moral_theory-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Defense_of_others" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Defense_of_others"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Defense of others</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Defense_of_others-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Legal_defense_for_self-defense_claim" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Legal_defense_for_self-defense_claim"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Legal defense for self-defense claim</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Legal_defense_for_self-defense_claim-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Model_Penal_Code" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Model_Penal_Code"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Model Penal Code</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Model_Penal_Code-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Common_law_cases" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Common_law_cases"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Common law cases</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Common_law_cases-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Definition_in_specific_countries" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Definition_in_specific_countries"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Definition in specific countries</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Definition_in_specific_countries-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Bibliography" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Bibliography"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>Bibliography</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Bibliography-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Right of self-defense</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 38 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-38" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">38 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AD%D9%82_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9_%D8%B9%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B3" title="حق الدفاع عن النفس – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="حق الدفاع عن النفس" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0_%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0" title="আত্মরক্ষার অধিকার – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="আত্মরক্ষার অধিকার" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-min-nan mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-min-nan.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A8ng-tong_h%C3%B4ng-%C5%8De" title="Chèng-tong hông-ōe – Minnan" lang="nan" hreflang="nan" data-title="Chèng-tong hông-ōe" data-language-autonym="閩南語 / Bân-lâm-gú" data-language-local-name="Minnan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>閩南語 / Bân-lâm-gú</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0" title="Неизбежна отбрана – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Неизбежна отбрана" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leg%C3%ADtima_defensa" title="Legítima defensa – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Legítima defensa" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%B8dv%C3%A6rge" title="Nødværge – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Nødværge" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notwehr" title="Notwehr – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Notwehr" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaitse%C3%B5igus" title="Kaitseõigus – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Kaitseõigus" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leg%C3%ADtima_defensa" title="Legítima defensa – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Legítima defensa" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidezko_defentsa" title="Bidezko defentsa – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Bidezko defentsa" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9_%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9" title="دفاع مشروع – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="دفاع مشروع" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9gitime_d%C3%A9fense" title="Légitime défense – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Légitime défense" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%A0%95%EB%8B%B9%EB%B0%A9%EC%9C%84" title="정당방위 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="정당방위" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ha mw-list-item"><a href="https://ha.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ha%C6%99%C6%99in_Kare_Kai" title="Haƙƙin Kare Kai – Hausa" lang="ha" hreflang="ha" data-title="Haƙƙin Kare Kai" data-language-autonym="Hausa" data-language-local-name="Hausa" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hausa</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hy mw-list-item"><a href="https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D4%B1%D5%B6%D5%B0%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%AA%D5%A5%D5%B7%D5%BF_%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%B7%D5%BF%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6" title="Անհրաժեշտ պաշտպանություն – Armenian" lang="hy" hreflang="hy" data-title="Անհրաժեշտ պաշտպանություն" data-language-autonym="Հայերեն" data-language-local-name="Armenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Հայերեն</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0" title="आत्मरक्षा का अधिकार – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="आत्मरक्षा का अधिकार" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu%C5%BEna_obrana" title="Nužna obrana – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Nužna obrana" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ig mw-list-item"><a href="https://ig.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_self-defense" title="Right of self-defense – Igbo" lang="ig" hreflang="ig" data-title="Right of self-defense" data-language-autonym="Igbo" data-language-local-name="Igbo" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Igbo</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legittima_difesa_(diritto)" title="Legittima difesa (diritto) – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Legittima difesa (diritto)" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ka mw-list-item"><a href="https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%90%E1%83%A3%E1%83%AA%E1%83%98%E1%83%9A%E1%83%94%E1%83%91%E1%83%94%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98_%E1%83%9B%E1%83%9D%E1%83%92%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98%E1%83%94%E1%83%91%E1%83%90" title="აუცილებელი მოგერიება – Georgian" lang="ka" hreflang="ka" data-title="აუცილებელი მოგერიება" data-language-autonym="ქართული" data-language-local-name="Georgian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ქართული</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lb mw-list-item"><a href="https://lb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noutwier" title="Noutwier – Luxembourgish" lang="lb" hreflang="lb" data-title="Noutwier" data-language-autonym="Lëtzebuergesch" data-language-local-name="Luxembourgish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lëtzebuergesch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jogos_v%C3%A9delem" title="Jogos védelem – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Jogos védelem" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noodweer_(juridisch)" title="Noodweer (juridisch) – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Noodweer (juridisch)" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A3%E5%BD%93%E9%98%B2%E8%A1%9B" title="正当防衛 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="正当防衛" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%B8dverge" title="Nødverge – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Nødverge" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-oc mw-list-item"><a href="https://oc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legitima_defensa" title="Legitima defensa – Occitan" lang="oc" hreflang="oc" data-title="Legitima defensa" data-language-autonym="Occitan" data-language-local-name="Occitan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Occitan</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ps mw-list-item"><a href="https://ps.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9_%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9" title="مشروع دفاع – Pashto" lang="ps" hreflang="ps" data-title="مشروع دفاع" data-language-autonym="پښتو" data-language-local-name="Pashto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>پښتو</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obrona_konieczna" title="Obrona konieczna – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Obrona konieczna" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leg%C3%ADtima_defesa" title="Legítima defesa – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Legítima defesa" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ro mw-list-item"><a href="https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legitim%C4%83_ap%C4%83rare" title="Legitimă apărare – Romanian" lang="ro" hreflang="ro" data-title="Legitimă apărare" data-language-autonym="Română" data-language-local-name="Romanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Română</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0" title="Необходимая оборона – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Необходимая оборона" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sl mw-list-item"><a href="https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silobran" title="Silobran – Slovenian" lang="sl" hreflang="sl" data-title="Silobran" data-language-autonym="Slovenščina" data-language-local-name="Slovenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenščina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ckb mw-list-item"><a href="https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%81%DB%8C_%D8%AE%DB%86%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%86" title="مافی خۆپاراستن – Central Kurdish" lang="ckb" hreflang="ckb" data-title="مافی خۆپاراستن" data-language-autonym="کوردی" data-language-local-name="Central Kurdish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>کوردی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9D%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0" title="Нужна одбрана – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Нужна одбрана" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A4t%C3%A4varjelu" title="Hätävarjelu – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Hätävarjelu" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%B6dv%C3%A4rnsr%C3%A4tt" title="Nödvärnsrätt – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Nödvärnsrätt" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BE_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%83" title="Право на самооборону – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Право на самооборону" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A3%E5%BD%93%E9%98%B2%E5%8D%AB" title="正当防卫 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="正当防卫" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span 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Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22Right+of+self-defense%22">"Right of self-defense"</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22Right+of+self-defense%22+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Right+of+self-defense%22&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Right+of+self-defense%22+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Right+of+self-defense%22">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Right+of+self-defense%22&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">September 2008</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1251242444"><table class="box-Globalize plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-globalize" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="Globe icon." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Ambox_globe_content.svg/48px-Ambox_globe_content.svg.png" decoding="async" width="48" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Ambox_globe_content.svg/73px-Ambox_globe_content.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Ambox_globe_content.svg/97px-Ambox_globe_content.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="350" data-file-height="290" /></span></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">The examples and perspective in this article <b>deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Countering_systemic_bias" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Countering systemic bias">worldwide view</a> of the subject</b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> You may <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit">improve this article</a>, discuss the issue on the <a href="/wiki/Talk:Right_of_self-defense" title="Talk:Right of self-defense">talk page</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Article_wizard" title="Wikipedia:Article wizard">create 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title="Alibi">Alibi</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Consent_(criminal_law)" title="Consent (criminal law)">Consent</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Mistake_(criminal_law)" title="Mistake (criminal law)">Mistake</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Duress" class="mw-redirect" title="Duress">Duress</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Age_of_criminal_responsibility" title="Age of criminal responsibility">Age</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Necessity_(criminal_law)" title="Necessity (criminal law)">Necessity</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Provocation_(law)" title="Provocation (law)">Provocation</a></li><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Self-defense</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/False_confession" title="False confession">False confession</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Entrapment" title="Entrapment">Entrapment</a></li></ul></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <dl><dt><span class="nobold"><i>See also</i></span></dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Criminal_law" title="Criminal law">Criminal law</a> and <a href="/wiki/Criminal_procedure" title="Criminal procedure">procedure</a></dd></dl></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Other <a href="/wiki/Common_law" title="Common law">common law</a> areas</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="hlist"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Criminal_law" title="Criminal law">Criminal</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Contract_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Contract law">Contract</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Tort_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Tort law">Tort</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Property_law" title="Property law">Property</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Will_(law)" class="mw-redirect" title="Will (law)">wills</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Trust_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Trust law">Trusts</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Estate_(law)" title="Estate (law)">Estates</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Evidence_(law)" title="Evidence (law)">Evidence</a></li></ul></div></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Portals</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> 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href="/wiki/File:HumanRightsLogo.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/HumanRightsLogo.svg/75px-HumanRightsLogo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="75" height="78" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/HumanRightsLogo.svg/113px-HumanRightsLogo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/HumanRightsLogo.svg/150px-HumanRightsLogo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="120" data-file-height="125" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Theoretical distinctions</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Claim_rights_and_liberty_rights" title="Claim rights and liberty rights">Claim rights and liberty rights</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Individual_and_group_rights" title="Individual and group rights">Individual and group rights</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Natural_rights_and_legal_rights" title="Natural rights and legal rights">Natural rights and 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<li><a href="/wiki/Human_rights" title="Human rights">Humans</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indigenous_rights" title="Indigenous rights">Indigenous</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Intersex_human_rights" title="Intersex human rights">Intersex</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings" title="Divine right of kings">Kings</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/LGBT_rights_by_country_or_territory" class="mw-redirect" title="LGBT rights by country or territory">LGBT</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Transgender_rights" class="mw-redirect" title="Transgender rights">Transgender</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Men%27s_movement" title="Men's movement">Men</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Minority_rights" title="Minority rights">Minorities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Parents%27_rights_movement" title="Parents' rights movement">Parents</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fathers%27_rights_movement" title="Fathers' rights movement">Fathers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mothers%27_rights" title="Mothers' rights">Mothers</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patients%27_rights" title="Patients' rights">Patients</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Nations_Declaration_on_the_Rights_of_Peasants" title="United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants">Peasants</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Plant_rights" title="Plant rights">Plants</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prisoners%27_rights" title="Prisoners' rights">Prisoners</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ethics_of_artificial_intelligence#Robot_rights" title="Ethics of artificial intelligence">Robots</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/States%27_rights" title="States' rights">States</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Student_rights" title="Student rights">Students</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Victims%27_rights" title="Victims' rights">Victims</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_rights" title="Women's rights">Women</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Labor_rights" title="Labor rights">Workers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Youth_rights" title="Youth rights">Youth</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Other groups of rights</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Freedom_of_assembly" title="Freedom of assembly">Assembly</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Freedom_of_association" title="Freedom of association">Association</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_of_asylum" title="Right of asylum">Asylum</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Civil_liberties" title="Civil liberties">Civil liberties</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_clothing" title="Right to clothing">Clothing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_development" title="Right to development">Development</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Digital_rights" title="Digital rights">Digital</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_education" title="Right to education">Education</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_a_fair_trial" title="Right to a fair trial">Fair trial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_food" title="Right to food">Food</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Free_migration" title="Free migration">Free migration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_health" title="Right to health">Health</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_a_healthy_environment" title="Right to a healthy environment">Healthy environment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_housing" title="Right to housing">Housing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Linguistic_rights" title="Linguistic rights">Linguistic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Freedom_of_movement" title="Freedom of movement">Movement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_property" title="Right to property">Property</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_repair" title="Right to repair">Repair</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reproductive_rights" title="Reproductive rights">Reproductive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_rest_and_leisure" title="Right to rest and leisure">Rest and leisure</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Security_of_person" title="Security of person">Security</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Self defense</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-determination" title="Self-determination">Self-determination of people</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_sexuality" title="Right to sexuality">Sexuality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Freedom_of_speech" title="Freedom of speech">Speech</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Human_right_to_water_and_sanitation" title="Human right to water and sanitation">Water and sanitation</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Rights" title="Template:Rights"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Rights" title="Template talk:Rights"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Rights" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Rights"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>right of self-defense</b> (also called, when it applies to the defense of another, <b>alter ego defense</b>, <b>defense of others</b>, <b>defense of a third person</b>) is the right for people to use reasonable or defensive force, for the purpose of defending one's own life (<a href="/wiki/Self-defense" title="Self-defense">self-defense</a>) or the lives of others, including, in certain circumstances, the use of <a href="/wiki/Deadly_force" title="Deadly force">deadly force</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>If a defendant uses defensive force because of a threat of deadly or grievous harm by the other person, or a reasonable perception of such harm, the defendant is said to have a "perfect self-defense" <a href="/wiki/Justification_(jurisprudence)" title="Justification (jurisprudence)">justification</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-CL_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CL-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> If defendant uses defensive force because of such a perception, and the perception is not reasonable, the defendant may have an "<a href="/wiki/Imperfect_self-defense" title="Imperfect self-defense">imperfect self-defense</a>" as an <a href="/wiki/Excuse" title="Excuse">excuse</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-CL_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CL-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="General_concepts_–_legal_theory"><span id="General_concepts_.E2.80.93_legal_theory"></span>General concepts – legal theory</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: General concepts – legal theory"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Self-defence_in_international_law" title="Self-defence in international law">Self-defence in international law</a></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>Justification does not make a criminal use of force lawful; if the use of force is justified, it cannot be criminal at all.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <p>The early theories make no distinction between <a href="/wiki/Civil_defense" title="Civil defense">defense</a> of the person and defense of property. Whether consciously or not, this builds on the <a href="/wiki/Roman_law" title="Roman law">Roman Law</a> principle of <i>dominium</i> where any attack on the members of the family or the property it owned was a personal attack on the <i><a href="/wiki/Pater_familias" title="Pater familias">pater familias</a></i> –  the male head of the household, sole owner of all property belonging to the household, and endowed by law with dominion over all his descendants through the male line no matter their age.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The right to self-defense is phrased as the principle of <i>vim vi repellere licet</i> ("it is permitted to repel force by force") in the <a href="/wiki/Digest_(Roman_law)" title="Digest (Roman law)"><i>Digest</i> of Justitian</a> (6th century). Another early application of this was <a href="/wiki/Martin_Luther" title="Martin Luther">Martin Luther</a>'s concept of justified resistance against a <a href="/wiki/Beerwolf" title="Beerwolf">Beerwolf</a> ruler, which was used in the doctrine of the <a href="/wiki/Lesser_magistrate" title="Lesser magistrate">lesser magistrate</a> propounded in the 1550 <i><a href="/wiki/Magdeburg_Confession" title="Magdeburg Confession">Magdeburg Confession</a></i>. </p><p>In <i><a href="/wiki/Leviathan_(Hobbes_book)" title="Leviathan (Hobbes book)">Leviathan</a></i> (1651), <a href="/wiki/Hobbes" class="mw-redirect" title="Hobbes">Hobbes</a> (using the English term <i>self-defense</i> for the first time) proposed the foundation political theory that distinguishes between a <a href="/wiki/State_of_nature" title="State of nature">state of nature</a> where there is no authority and a modern state. Hobbes argues that although some may be stronger or more intelligent than others in their natural state, none are so strong as to be beyond a fear of violent death, which justifies self-defense as the highest necessity. In the <i><a href="/wiki/Two_Treatises_of_Government" title="Two Treatises of Government">Two Treatises of Government</a></i>, <a href="/wiki/John_Locke" title="John Locke">John Locke</a> asserts the reason why an owner would give up their autonomy: </p> <blockquote><p>...the enjoyment of the property he has in this state is very unsafe, very unsecure. This makes him willing to quit a condition, which, however free, is full of fears and continual dangers: and it is not without reason, that he seeks out, and is willing to join in society with others, who are already united, or have a mind to unite, for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties and estates, which many call by the general name, property.</p></blockquote> <p>In earlier times before the development of national policing, an attack on the family home was effectively either an assault on the people actually inside or an indirect assault on their welfare by depriving them of shelter and/or the means of production. This linkage between a personal attack and property weakened as societies developed but the threat of violence remains a key factor. As an aspect of <a href="/wiki/Sovereignty" title="Sovereignty">sovereignty</a>, in his 1918 speech <span title="German-language text"><i lang="de">Politik als Beruf</i></span> (<a href="/wiki/Politics_as_a_Vocation" title="Politics as a Vocation">Politics as a Vocation</a>), <a href="/wiki/Max_Weber" title="Max Weber">Max Weber</a> defined a <a href="/wiki/State_(polity)" title="State (polity)">state</a> as an authority claiming the <a href="/wiki/Monopoly_on_the_legitimate_use_of_physical_force" class="mw-redirect" title="Monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force">monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force</a> within defined territorial boundaries. Recognizing that the modern framework of nations has emerged from the use of force, Weber asserted that the exercise of power through the institutions of government remained indispensable for effective government at any level which necessarily implies that self-help is limited if not excluded. </p><p>For modern theorists, the question of self-defense is one of <a href="/wiki/Moral_authority" title="Moral authority">moral authority</a> within the nation to set the limits to obedience to the state and its laws given the pervasive dangers in a world full of weapons. In modern societies, states are increasingly delegating or privatizing their coercive powers to corporate providers of security services either to supplement or replace components within the power hierarchy. The fact that states no longer claim a monopoly to police within their borders, enhances the argument that individuals may exercise a right or privilege to use violence in their own defense. Indeed, modern <a href="/wiki/Libertarianism" title="Libertarianism">libertarianism</a> characterizes the majority of laws as intrusive to personal autonomy and, in particular, argues that the right of self-defense from <a href="/wiki/Coercion" title="Coercion">coercion</a> (including violence) is a fundamental <a href="/wiki/Human_right" class="mw-redirect" title="Human right">human right</a>, and in all cases, with no exceptions, justifies all uses of violence stemming from this right, regardless whether in defense of the person or property. In this context, note that Article 12 <a href="/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights" title="Universal Declaration of Human Rights">Universal Declaration of Human Rights</a> states: </p> <blockquote><p>No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.</p></blockquote> <p>The inclusion of defense of one's family and home recognizes the universal benefit claimed to stem from the family's peaceable possession of private property. This general approach implicitly attacks <a href="/wiki/Wesley_Newcomb_Hohfeld" title="Wesley Newcomb Hohfeld">Hohfeld's</a> focus on the <a href="/wiki/Corelative" title="Corelative">correlative</a> relationship between right and duty as an aspect of human interactiveness as opposed to rights deemed implicitly more important because they attach to a person by virtue of his or her ownership of property. Further, it follows that, in this moral balancing exercise, laws must simultaneously criminalize aggression resulting in loss or injury, but decriminalize qualitatively identical violence causing loss or injury because it is used in self-defense. As a resolution of this apparent paradox and in defiance of Hohfeld, <a href="/wiki/Robert_Nozick" title="Robert Nozick">Robert Nozick</a> asserted that there are no positive <a href="/wiki/Civil_rights" class="mw-redirect" title="Civil rights">civil rights</a>, only rights to property and the right of autonomy. In this theory, the "acquisition principle" states that people are entitled to defend and retain all holdings acquired in a just way and the "rectification principle" requires that any violation of the first principle be repaired by returning holdings to their rightful owners as a "one time" redistribution. Hence, in default of self-defense in the first instance, any damage to property must be made good either in kind or by value. Similarly, theorists such as George Fletcher and Robert Schopp have adopted European concepts of autonomy in their liberal theories to justify the right-holder using all necessary force to defend his or her autonomy and rights. This right inverts the <i>felicitation principle</i> of <a href="/wiki/Utilitarianism" title="Utilitarianism">utilitarianism</a> with the responsive violence being the greatest good to the individual, but accurately mirrors <a href="/wiki/Jeremy_Bentham" title="Jeremy Bentham">Jeremy Bentham</a> who saw property as the driving force to enable individuals to enhance their utilities through stable investment and trade. In liberal theory, therefore, to maximise the utility, there is no need to retreat nor use only proportionate force. The attacker is said to sacrifice legal protection when initiating the attack. In this respect, the criminal law is not the tool of a <a href="/wiki/Welfare_state" title="Welfare state">welfare state</a> which offers a safety net for all when they are injured. Nevertheless, some limits must be recognized as where a minor initial attack simply becomes a pretext for an excessively violent response. The <a href="/wiki/Civil_law_(legal_system)" title="Civil law (legal system)">civil law</a> systems have a theory of "abuse of right" to explain denial of justification in such extreme cases. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Moral_theory">Moral theory</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Moral theory"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The right to armed self-preservation is derived from Graeco-Roman natural rights theory, clearly enunciated by the Roman statesman <a href="/wiki/Cicero" title="Cicero">Cicero</a> (<a href="/wiki/Common_Era" title="Common Era">BCE</a> 106–43) and other stoic philosophers, influenced by <a href="/wiki/Aristotle" title="Aristotle">Aristotle</a>. <a href="/wiki/Miguel_Faria" class="mw-redirect" title="Miguel Faria">Miguel Faria</a>, author of the book <i>America, Guns, and Freedom</i> (2019), writing in <i><a href="/wiki/Surgical_Neurology_International" title="Surgical Neurology International">Surgical Neurology International</a></i> explained that individuals have a right to protect their persons via a natural right to self-defense; that people have not only a right to self-defense but also a moral duty to defend their families and neighbors; that the right to armed self-defense extends collectively to the community to curb or prevent tyrannical government.<sup id="cite_ref-SNI_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SNI-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The right of free men to bear arms for self-defense becomes a duty to protect those under their household and care. Most religions, especially in the Judeo-Christian heritage agree on the right to self-defense and home protection with arms. The Catholic catechism derived from inception based on the theological work of <a href="/wiki/Thomas_Aquinas" title="Thomas Aquinas">Thomas Aquinas</a>. It reads: "Legitimate defense can be not only a right but also a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm." Furthermore, as "it happens that the need to render the aggressor incapable of causing harm sometimes involves taking his life."<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The English philosopher <a href="/wiki/John_Locke" title="John Locke">John Locke</a> (1632–1704) posited that natural rights were self-evident and gave man the power "to pursue life, health, liberty and possessions," as well as the right to self-defense. This concept was taken by the <a href="/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States" title="Founding Fathers of the United States">Founders of the United States</a> and clearly formulated by <a href="/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson" title="Thomas Jefferson">Thomas Jefferson</a> in the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence" title="United States Declaration of Independence">Declaration of Independence</a>. In his review of David Kopel's <i>The morality of self-defense and military action: The Judeo-Christian Tradition</i> (2017), Faria concludes: "Liberty and the right to preserve life through self-defense are natural rights of the people – namely, gifts from God or Nature to man – and governments that attempt to circumvent those rights are no longer legitimate governments but usurpations. Bad governments and usurpations are already in rebellion against God and man, so the people have a legitimate right to self-defense in the form of insurrection to overthrow those governments."<sup id="cite_ref-SNI_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SNI-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Defense_of_others">Defense of others</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Defense of others"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1246091330"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1202158006"><table class="sidebar nomobile nowraplinks hlist law-sidebar"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebar-pretitle">Part of the <a href="/wiki/Common_law" title="Common law">common law</a> series</td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-title-with-pretitle"><a href="/wiki/Tort" title="Tort">Tort law</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <small>(<a href="/wiki/Outline_of_tort_law" title="Outline of tort law">Outline</a>)</small></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> <a href="/wiki/Trespass_to_the_person" class="mw-redirect" title="Trespass to the person">Trespass to the person</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Assault_(tort)" title="Assault (tort)">Assault</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battery_(tort)" title="Battery (tort)">Battery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_imprisonment" title="False imprisonment">False imprisonment</a></li> <li><span class="wraplinks"><a href="/wiki/Intentional_infliction_of_emotional_distress" title="Intentional infliction of emotional distress">Intentional infliction of emotional distress</a></span></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Property torts</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Trespass" title="Trespass">Trespass</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Trespass_to_land" title="Trespass to land">land</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trespass_to_chattels" title="Trespass to chattels">chattels</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conversion_(law)" title="Conversion (law)">Conversion</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> <a href="/wiki/Dignitary_tort" title="Dignitary tort">Dignitary torts</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Personality_rights" title="Personality rights">Appropriation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Defamation" title="Defamation">Defamation</a> <ul><li>Slander</li> <li>Libel</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_light" title="False light">False light</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Expectation_of_privacy_(United_States)" title="Expectation of privacy (United States)">Invasion of privacy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Intrusion_on_seclusion" title="Intrusion on seclusion">Intrusion on seclusion</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Breach_of_confidence" title="Breach of confidence">Breach of confidence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Abuse_of_process" title="Abuse of process">Abuse of process</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malicious_prosecution" title="Malicious prosecution">Malicious prosecution</a></li> <li>Sexual torts <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Alienation_of_affections" title="Alienation of affections">Alienation of affections</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Criminal_conversation" title="Criminal conversation">Criminal conversation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Seduction_(tort)" title="Seduction (tort)">Seduction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Breach_of_promise" title="Breach of promise">Breach of promise</a></li></ul></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> <a href="/wiki/Negligence" title="Negligence">Negligent torts</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Negligent_infliction_of_emotional_distress" title="Negligent infliction of emotional distress">Negligent infliction of emotional distress</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Negligence_in_employment" title="Negligence in employment">Employment-related</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Negligent_entrustment" title="Negligent entrustment">Entrustment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malpractice" title="Malpractice">Malpractice</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Legal_malpractice" title="Legal malpractice">legal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Medical_malpractice" title="Medical malpractice">medical</a></li></ul></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> <a href="/wiki/Calculus_of_negligence" class="mw-redirect" title="Calculus of negligence">Principles of negligence</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Duty_of_care" title="Duty of care">Duty of care</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Trespasser" title="Trespasser">Trespassers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Licensee" title="Licensee">Licensees</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Invitee" title="Invitee">Invitees</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Standard_of_care" title="Standard of care">Standard of care</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Reasonable_person" title="Reasonable person">Reasonable person</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Proximate_cause" title="Proximate cause">Proximate cause</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Res_ipsa_loquitur" title="Res ipsa loquitur">Res ipsa loquitur</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Restitutio_ad_integrum" title="Restitutio ad integrum">Restitutio ad integrum</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rescue_doctrine" title="Rescue doctrine">Rescue doctrine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Duty_to_rescue" title="Duty to rescue">Duty to rescue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Comparative_responsibility" title="Comparative responsibility">Comparative responsibility</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Contributory_negligence" title="Contributory negligence">Contributory negligence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Attractive_nuisance_doctrine" title="Attractive nuisance doctrine">Attractive nuisance</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> <a href="/wiki/Strict_liability" title="Strict liability">Strict</a> and <a href="/wiki/Absolute_liability" title="Absolute liability">absolute</a> liability</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Product_liability" title="Product liability">Product liability</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ultrahazardous_activity" title="Ultrahazardous activity">Ultrahazardous activity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deep_pocket#Deep_pocket_in_law_and_economics" title="Deep pocket">Deep pockets</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> <a href="/wiki/Nuisance" title="Nuisance">Nuisance</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Public_nuisance" title="Public nuisance">Public nuisance</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Rylands_v_Fletcher" title="Rylands v Fletcher">Rylands v Fletcher</a></i></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> <a href="/wiki/Economic_torts" title="Economic torts">Economic torts</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Civil_conspiracy" title="Civil conspiracy">Conspiracy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Restraint_of_trade" title="Restraint of trade">Restraint of trade</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Insurance_bad_faith" title="Insurance bad faith">Insurance bad faith</a> <small>(American law)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fraud" title="Fraud">Fraud</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tortious_interference" title="Tortious interference">Tortious interference</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> <a href="/wiki/Tort#Defenses" title="Tort">Defences</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Assumption_of_risk" title="Assumption of risk">Assumption of risk</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Consent" title="Consent">Consent</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Necessity_(tort)" title="Necessity (tort)">Necessity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Statute_of_limitations" title="Statute of limitations">Statute of limitations</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Self-defense</a> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink-fragment" href="#Defense_of_others">Defense of others</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Defence_of_property" title="Defence of property">Defence of property</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shopkeeper%27s_privilege" title="Shopkeeper's privilege">Shopkeeper's privilege</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Neutral_reportage" title="Neutral reportage">Neutral reportage</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Liability</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Intentional_tort" title="Intentional tort">Intentional torts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Last_clear_chance" title="Last clear chance">Last clear chance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eggshell_skull" title="Eggshell skull">Eggshell skull</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vicarious_liability" title="Vicarious liability">Vicarious liability</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Respondeat_superior" title="Respondeat superior">Respondeat superior</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Volenti_non_fit_injuria" title="Volenti non fit injuria">Volenti non fit injuria</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ex_turpi_causa_non_oritur_actio" title="Ex turpi causa non oritur actio">Ex turpi causa non oritur actio</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Joint_and_several_liability" title="Joint and several liability">Joint and several liability</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Market_share_liability" title="Market share liability">Market share liability</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transferred_intent" title="Transferred intent">Transferred intent</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Remedies</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Damages" title="Damages">Damages</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Punitive_damages" title="Punitive damages">Punitive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Consequential_damages" title="Consequential damages">Special</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Incidental_damages" title="Incidental damages">Incidental</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Injunction" title="Injunction">Injunction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tracing_(law)" title="Tracing (law)">Tracing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Detinue" title="Detinue">Detinue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Replevin" title="Replevin">Replevin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trover" title="Trover">Trover</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Other topics in tort law</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tort_reform" title="Tort reform">Tort reform</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Non-economic_damages_caps" title="Non-economic damages caps">Non-economic damages caps</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quasi-tort" title="Quasi-tort">Quasi-tort</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Delict" title="Delict">Delict</a> <small>(term used for torts in some <a href="/wiki/Civil_law_(legal_system)" title="Civil law (legal system)">civil</a> and <a href="/wiki/List_of_national_legal_systems" title="List of national legal systems">mixed legal systems</a>)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conflict_of_tort_laws" title="Conflict of tort laws">Conflict of tort laws</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Private_attorney_general" title="Private attorney general">Private attorney general</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Class_action" title="Class action">Class action</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> By jurisdiction</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tort_law_in_Australia" title="Tort law in Australia">Australia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Canadian_tort_law" title="Canadian tort law">Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tort_law_in_China" title="Tort law in China">China</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/English_tort_law" title="English tort law">England and Wales</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_tort_law" title="European tort law">European Union</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tort_law_in_India" title="Tort law in India">India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Law_of_Japan#Torts" title="Law of Japan">Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Law_of_Taiwan#Torts" title="Law of Taiwan">Taiwan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_States_tort_law" title="United States tort law">United States</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Other <a href="/wiki/Common_law" title="Common law">common law</a> areas</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content nowrapitems"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Contract" title="Contract">Contracts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Criminal_law" title="Criminal law">Criminal law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evidence_(law)" title="Evidence (law)">Evidence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Property_law" title="Property law">Property</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Will_and_testament" title="Will and testament">Wills</a>, <a href="/wiki/Trust_(law)" title="Trust (law)">trusts</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Estate_(law)" title="Estate (law)">estates</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-below"> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Balance,_by_David.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="icon" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Balance%2C_by_David.svg/16px-Balance%2C_by_David.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Balance%2C_by_David.svg/24px-Balance%2C_by_David.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Balance%2C_by_David.svg/32px-Balance%2C_by_David.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="606" data-file-height="558" /></a></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portal:Law" title="Portal:Law">Law portal</a></li></ul></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Tort_law" title="Template:Tort law"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Tort_law" title="Template talk:Tort law"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Tort_law" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Tort law"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The rules are the same when force is used to protect <i>another</i> from danger.<sup id="cite_ref-CL_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CL-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Generally, the defendant must have a reasonable belief that the third party is in a position where they have the right of self-defense. For example, a person who unknowingly chances upon two actors practicing a fight would be able to defend their restraint of the one that appeared to be the aggressor. However, in many jurisdictions a person who causes injury in defense of another may be liable to criminal and civil charges if such defense turned out to be unnecessary. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Legal_defense_for_self-defense_claim">Legal defense for self-defense claim</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Legal defense for self-defense claim"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Son assault demesne</b> ("his own first assault") is a form of a plea to <a href="/wiki/Justification_(jurisprudence)" title="Justification (jurisprudence)">justify</a> an assault and <a href="/wiki/Battery_(crime)" title="Battery (crime)">battery</a>, by which the <a href="/wiki/Defendant" title="Defendant">defendant</a> asserts that the <a href="/wiki/Plaintiff" title="Plaintiff">plaintiff</a> committed an assault upon him, and the defendant merely defended himself. Claiming a self-defense case will greatly depend on the threat. This includes whether it was a verbal threat that made the person feel threatened, to the extent that they felt the need to defend themselves. It will also depend on if the threat was imminent or not.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Some questions to ask are was the threat about to happen and was the person's life really in danger? Did they provoke the person for the attack to happen? When the person attacked the person, did his or her self-defense match the threat, or was it to the point where the person ended up dead when they did not need to have been killed? Was it a '<a href="/wiki/Castle_doctrine" title="Castle doctrine">castle doctrine</a>' defense?<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Did they intentionally break in the person's home and try to harm the person or their family to the point where they had to defend themselves or others using deadly force? </p><p>When the plea is supported by evidence, it is a sufficient justification, unless the retaliation by the defendant were <a href="/wiki/Imperfect_self-defense" title="Imperfect self-defense">excessive</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and bore no proportion to the <a href="/wiki/Necessity_(tort)" title="Necessity (tort)">necessity</a>, or to the provocation received.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Character_evidence" title="Character evidence">Character evidence</a> that the plaintiff was noted for quarrelsomeness is generally admissible where an answer of son assault demesne is filed.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Model_Penal_Code">Model Penal Code</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Model Penal Code"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the US, <a href="/wiki/Model_Penal_Code" title="Model Penal Code">Model Penal Code</a> (MPC) §3.04 contains an elaborate formulation for use of force, including when it is justified, and limitations on the justification.<sup id="cite_ref-CL_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CL-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The MPC is neither static nor legally binding in any jurisdiction, however more than half of all U.S. states have enacted criminal codes that borrow heavily from the MPC.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKadishSchulhoferBarkow2017157_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKadishSchulhoferBarkow2017157-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In general the MPC hold great sway in criminal courts even in states that have not directly drawn from it, as judges often use the MPC as a source of the <a href="/wiki/Legal_doctrine" title="Legal doctrine">doctrines</a> and principles underlying criminal liability.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKadishSchulhoferBarkow2017157_12-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKadishSchulhoferBarkow2017157-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However this is not the case with regards to the law on self-defense; the MPC's definition has been resoundingly rejected by both courts and legislatures, with only a handful of jurisdictions applying the MPC's definition of self defense. In the U.S., most states apply instead the <a href="/wiki/Stand-your-ground_law" title="Stand-your-ground law"><i>stand your ground</i></a> doctrine of self-defense; whereby an otherwise law abiding individual, while in any location they have a legal right to be, enjoys an extremely broad right to self-defense, being under no legal obligation to retreat from an agressor regardless of ease or ability to do so. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Common_law_cases">Common law cases</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Common law cases"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In <i><a href="/wiki/People_v._La_Voie" title="People v. La Voie">People v. La Voie</a></i>, Supreme Court of Colorado, 395 P.2d 1001 (1964), The court wrote, "When a person has reasonable grounds for believing, and does in fact actually believe, that danger of his being killed, or of receiving great bodily harm, is imminent, he may act on such appearances and defend himself, even to the extent of taking human life when necessary, although it may turn out that the appearances were false, or although he may have been mistaken as to the extent of the real actual danger." </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Definition_in_specific_countries">Definition in specific countries</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Definition in specific countries"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Self-defence_(Australia)" title="Self-defence (Australia)">Australia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-defence_(Czech_Republic)" class="mw-redirect" title="Self-defence (Czech Republic)">Czech Republic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-defense_(Sweden)" class="mw-redirect" title="Self-defense (Sweden)">Sweden</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-defence_in_English_law" title="Self-defence in English law">England and Wales</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-defense_(United_States)" title="Self-defense (United States)">United States</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Justifiable_homicide" title="Justifiable homicide">Justifiable homicide</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Overview_of_gun_laws_by_nation" title="Overview of gun laws by nation">Overview of gun laws by nation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pikuach_nefesh#Other_exceptions" title="Pikuach nefesh">Pikuach nefesh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Right_to_keep_and_bear_arms" title="Right to keep and bear arms">Right to keep and bear arms</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Son_assault_demesne" class="mw-redirect" title="Son assault demesne">Son assault demesne</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Use_of_force_continuum" title="Use of force continuum">Use of force continuum</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">For the rationale of Self-defense, see: Boaz Sangero, Self-Defence in Criminal Law 11 – 106 (Hart Publishing, 2006).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-CL-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-CL_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-CL_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-CL_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-CL_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Criminal Law Cases and Materials, 7th ed. 2012; John Kaplan, Robert Weisberg, Guyora Binder</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Dennis J. Baker, Glanville Williams Textbook of Criminal Law (London: 2012) at Chapter 21.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>See generally</i>, Frier & McGinn, <i>A Casebook on Roman Family Law</i>, Oxford University Press (2004).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-SNI-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-SNI_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-SNI_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFFaria" class="citation web cs1">Faria, Miguel A. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://surgicalneurologyint.com/surgicalint-articles/the-moral-philosophy-of-self-defense-and-resistance-to-tyranny-in-the-judeo-christian-tradition-a-review-of-david-kopels-the-morality-of-self-defense-and-military-action-the-judeo/">"The moral philosophy of self-defense and resistance to tyranny in the Judeo-Christian Tradition"</a>. <i>Surgical Neurology International (SNI)</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2018-11-29</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=LII+%2F+Legal+Information+Institute&rft.atitle=Castle+Doctrine&rft.date=2009-11-16&rft.aulast=Ryan&rft.aufirst=Ms.+Meghan&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fwex%2Fcastle_doctrine&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARight+of+self-defense" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLyman,_Robert_W.1925–1926" class="citation cs2">Lyman, Robert W. (October 1925 – June 1926), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://heinonlinebackup.com/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/dlr30&section=25"><i>Exemplary Damages</i></a>, vol. 30, Dick. L. 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Butler, 19th ed., London, 1832)</li> <li>Dressler, Joshua, <i>New Thoughts About the Concept of Justification in the Criminal Law: A Critique of Fletcher's Thinking and Rethinking</i>, (1984) 32 UCLA L. Rev. 61.</li> <li>Fletcher, George P. (1990) <i>Crime of Self-Defense: Bernhard Goetz and the Law on Trial</i>, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0226253341" title="Special:BookSources/0226253341">0226253341</a>.</li> <li>Fletcher, George P. (2000) <i>Rethinking Criminal Law</i>, Oxford: Oxford University Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0195136950" title="Special:BookSources/0195136950">0195136950</a>.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGetmanMarshall2001" class="citation journal cs1">Getman, Julius G; Marshall, F Ray (2001). "The Continuing Assault on the Right to Strike". <i>Texas Law Review</i>. <b>79</b> (3): 703.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Texas+Law+Review&rft.atitle=The+Continuing+Assault+on+the+Right+to+Strike&rft.volume=79&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=703&rft.date=2001&rft.aulast=Getman&rft.aufirst=Julius+G&rft.au=Marshall%2C+F+Ray&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARight+of+self-defense" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGreen1999" class="citation journal cs1">Green, Stuart P. (1999). "Castles and Carjackers: Proportionality and the Use of Deadly Force in Defense of Dwellings and Vehicles". <i>University of Illinois Law Review</i>. <b>1999</b> (1). <a href="/wiki/SSRN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="SSRN (identifier)">SSRN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=123890">123890</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=University+of+Illinois+Law+Review&rft.atitle=Castles+and+Carjackers%3A+Proportionality+and+the+Use+of+Deadly+Force+in+Defense+of+Dwellings+and+Vehicles&rft.volume=1999&rft.issue=1&rft.date=1999&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fpapers.ssrn.com%2Fsol3%2Fpapers.cfm%3Fabstract_id%3D123890%23id-name%3DSSRN&rft.aulast=Green&rft.aufirst=Stuart+P.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARight+of+self-defense" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKadishSchulhoferBarkow2017" class="citation book cs1">Kadish, Sanford H.; Schulhofer, Stephen J.; Barkow, Rachel E. (2017). <i>Criminal Law and its Processes: Cases and Materials</i> (10th ed.). New York: Wolters Kluwer.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Criminal+Law+and+its+Processes%3A+Cases+and+Materials&rft.place=New+York&rft.edition=10th&rft.pub=Wolters+Kluwer&rft.date=2017&rft.aulast=Kadish&rft.aufirst=Sanford+H.&rft.au=Schulhofer%2C+Stephen+J.&rft.au=Barkow%2C+Rachel+E.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARight+of+self-defense" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLund2008" class="citation encyclopaedia cs1">Lund, Nelson (2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://sk.sagepub.com/reference/libertarianism/n269.xml">"Right to Bear Arms"</a>. In <a href="/wiki/Ronald_Hamowy" title="Ronald Hamowy">Hamowy, Ronald</a> (ed.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=yxNgXs3TkJYC"><i>The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism</i></a>. Thousand Oaks, CA: <a href="/wiki/SAGE_Publishing" class="mw-redirect" title="SAGE Publishing">Sage</a>; <a href="/wiki/Cato_Institute" title="Cato Institute">Cato Institute</a>. pp. 438–440. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.4135%2F9781412965811.n269">10.4135/9781412965811.n269</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1412965804" title="Special:BookSources/978-1412965804"><bdi>978-1412965804</bdi></a>. <a href="/wiki/LCCN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="LCCN (identifier)">LCCN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://lccn.loc.gov/2008009151">2008009151</a>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/750831024">750831024</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Right+to+Bear+Arms&rft.btitle=The+Encyclopedia+of+Libertarianism&rft.place=Thousand+Oaks%2C+CA&rft.pages=438-440&rft.pub=Sage%3B+Cato+Institute&rft.date=2008&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F750831024&rft_id=info%3Alccn%2F2008009151&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.4135%2F9781412965811.n269&rft.isbn=978-1412965804&rft.aulast=Lund&rft.aufirst=Nelson&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fsk.sagepub.com%2Freference%2Flibertarianism%2Fn269.xml&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARight+of+self-defense" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMcCoy2001" class="citation journal cs1">McCoy, Scott D. (2001). "The Homosexual-Advance Defense and Hate Crimes Statutes: Their Interaction and Conflict". <i>Cardozo Law Review</i>. <b>22</b> (2): 629.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Cardozo+Law+Review&rft.atitle=The+Homosexual-Advance+Defense+and+Hate+Crimes+Statutes%3A+Their+Interaction+and+Conflict&rft.volume=22&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=629&rft.date=2001&rft.aulast=McCoy&rft.aufirst=Scott+D.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARight+of+self-defense" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMaguigan1991" class="citation journal cs1">Maguigan, H. (1991). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/penn_law_review/vol140/iss2/1">"Battered Women and Self-Defense: Myths and Misconceptions in Current Reform Proposals"</a>. <i>University of Pennsylvania Law Review</i>. <b>140</b> (2): 379–486. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3312349">10.2307/3312349</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3312349">3312349</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=University+of+Pennsylvania+Law+Review&rft.atitle=Battered+Women+and+Self-Defense%3A+Myths+and+Misconceptions+in+Current+Reform+Proposals&rft.volume=140&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=379-486&rft.date=1991&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.2307%2F3312349&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F3312349%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.aulast=Maguigan&rft.aufirst=H.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fscholarship.law.upenn.edu%2Fpenn_law_review%2Fvol140%2Fiss2%2F1&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARight+of+self-defense" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNourse2001" class="citation journal cs1">Nourse, V. F. (2001). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2010&context=facpub">"Self-Defense and Subjectivity"</a>. <i>The University of Chicago Law Review</i>. <b>68</b> (4): 1235–1308. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1600480">10.2307/1600480</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1600480">1600480</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+University+of+Chicago+Law+Review&rft.atitle=Self-Defense+and+Subjectivity&rft.volume=68&rft.issue=4&rft.pages=1235-1308&rft.date=2001&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.2307%2F1600480&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F1600480%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.aulast=Nourse&rft.aufirst=V.+F.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fscholarship.law.georgetown.edu%2Fcgi%2Fviewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D2010%26context%3Dfacpub&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARight+of+self-defense" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Schopp, Robert F. (1998) <i>Justification Defenses and Just Convictions</i>, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0521622115" title="Special:BookSources/0521622115">0521622115</a>.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSegev2005" class="citation journal cs1">Segev, Re'em (2005). "Fairness, Responsibility and Self-Defense". <i>Santa Clara Law Review</i>. <b>45</b> (2): 383–460. <a href="/wiki/SSRN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="SSRN (identifier)">SSRN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=756947">756947</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Santa+Clara+Law+Review&rft.atitle=Fairness%2C+Responsibility+and+Self-Defense&rft.volume=45&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=383-460&rft.date=2005&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fpapers.ssrn.com%2Fsol3%2Fpapers.cfm%3Fabstract_id%3D756947%23id-name%3DSSRN&rft.aulast=Segev&rft.aufirst=Re%27em&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARight+of+self-defense" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Semeraro, (2006) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wwwdata.unibg.it/dati/bacheca/567/18910.pdf">Osservazioni sulla riforma della legittima difesa</a></li> <li>Vitu, Legitime defense et infraction d'imprudence, Revue de Science Criminelle, 1987, 865.</li> <li>"Criminal Law: Self-Defense". Michigan Law Review, vol. 2, no. 8, 1904, pp. 727–28, JSTOR, <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://doi.org/10.2307/1272411">https://doi.org/10.2307/1272411</a>. Accessed 18 May 2023.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Right_of_self-defense&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.useofforce.us/">UseofForce.us</a>, an independent, in-depth breakdown of US self-defense legalities.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHerbermann1913" class="citation encyclopaedia cs1">Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). <span class="cs1-ws-icon" title="s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Self-Defense"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Self-Defense">"Self-Defense" </a></span>. <i><a href="/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia" title="Catholic Encyclopedia">Catholic Encyclopedia</a></i>. New York: Robert Appleton Company.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Self-Defense&rft.btitle=Catholic+Encyclopedia&rft.place=New+York&rft.pub=Robert+Appleton+Company&rft.date=1913&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ARight+of+self-defense" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output 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