Lawful Self-Defense to "Run-Down" Rioters?
I thought this was a good article, and very timely, by Mr. Andrew Branca:
"...In short, one would apply the usual five elements of a self-defense justification to evaluate such a use of force against others, just as in any other instance of self-defense. Those elements are, of course: innocence, imminence, proportionality, avoidance, and reasonableness.
When all required elements are present, the use of force was legally justified. If any required element is missing, whatever that use of force might have been it was not lawful self-defense.
One of the challenges to legally justifying the use of force against highway blockades is the element of imminence. Do people who are merely blocking a roadway represent an imminent threat against which some defensive force might be justified? ..."
More here:
http://legalinsurrection.com/2016/09...-your-vehicle/
Thoughts?
I find it comforting to think of putting the truck in 4WD and using the 800 lb-ft torque of my Cummins Diesel, but there are good things to consider before doing that.
Mods: Please move if this belongs elsewhere; Mindset and Tactics seemed a likely location.
Lawful Self-Defense to "Run-Down" Rioters?
My hunch is this data will become more and more pertinent as time goes on. When protests went "sideways" in my town, attempting to shut down the highway was one of the first things they did.
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/stor...lice/86910374/
As I am driving across the US the next couple days with my family, I will be keeping my eyes and ears open as to the state of affairs in the cities we will drive through. We do pass through Charlotte.
One final question: do events from past riots legitimately shape ones response in a current situation / occurrence of civil unrest. The articles referenced all comment on imminence being necessary. That being said, I can't help but remember videos from the R. King riots where Reginald Denny was attacked. Those images plague my mind when contemplating my family surrounded in our vehicle by an angry mob. I know that footage and other video like it would shape the way I would articulate the calculations being made to determine whether or not imminent threat was truly present. In addition - if it is happening on one side of a city ( i.e. Charlotte ) would it be consider imminent on the other side of town. What I mean to ask is- if they are torching cars on the south side of town at roadblocks and you get entangled on the northside... Does you knowledge of the former shape your actions in the latter. Just thinking out loud.
AVOIDANCE is my first line of defense... Thank you for posting this!
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