What warrants the use of deadly force for self-defense?
Any person with a loaded firearm can shoot to kill. We have the ability to do that with very little effort. I think that's the point - and also the hazard - of having a gun around for self-defense. The question here is, when may we?
Clik here to view.
Part 1 summarizes the principles of self-defense in one's home and how they have changed over time. Part 2 will cover Stand Your Ground statutes, a development since 2005. Part 3 will present a selection of recent cases that do and don't "prove the rules." Based on comments and your input, I'll conclude with observations about these cases and some questions for "the other side of gun issues", whichever side that may be for you.
These diaries resort to broad generalizations. State laws vary, as you'd expect, and cases depend on their own facts, not to mention the prosecutor, judge and jury. Careful readers may object that I didn't cover this aspect or that, and they would be correct. That said ...
... let's talk about guns at home and deadly force beneath the Byzantine bullseye.
