Self Defense: Know The Law Or Suffer The Consequences

By Richard Nance

“Better to be tried by 12 than carried by six.” Like many clichés, it has a nice ring to it. However, uttering such a nonsensical remark reveals a fundamental lack of knowledge. While most would agree that it’s better to live with the consequences of our actions than to die, this overly simplistic, chest-thumping approach to self-defense leaves much to be desired.

Fortunately, there’s a better solution — one that will help you make appropriate decisions during your darkest hour. Those decisions will do more than keep you on the right side of the law; they will actually enhance your safety. What’s the solution? Education.

Long before strapping a pistol to your hip and developing skill at arms, you should consider the possible legal ramifications of shooting someone in self-defense. You should be able to articulate under what circumstances the use of deadly force in self-defense is authorized. Since laws tend to be written in “legalese,” they can be confusing. If you don’t understand something, ask someone who does. In some ways, shooting is the easy part. Understanding the legalities of self-defense can be far more challenging.

Self-defense laws vary from one location to another, sometimes dramatically. There are federal, state and local …Read the Rest

Source:: Guns and Ammo