Many people have questions when they first become interested in the art of self-defense. In this guide, we’ll address some of the most common self-defense questions people have and explore some things that are not always as obvious to someone just starting to research how to take responsibility for their own personal safety. It’s important to remember that personal protection and the steps to start building a robust self-defensepractice will be specific to the individual. It is also important to remember that while it is easy to focus on weapons, tools, and gear, use of force laws should probably be the first concern anyone has when they begin to ask questions and learn about personal protection.

What Is Self-Defense?

Self-defense is the fundamental human right that allows for the use of physical force to protect oneself from unlawful injury by another. Many different situations can fall under the umbrella of self-defense, and not every violent or potentially violent encounter is, or needs to be, solved with a weapon. While self-defense is a basic human right, it is crucial to know the rules that govern when someone is legally justified in defending themselves that are spelled out in self-defense laws.

Is Self-Defense Legal?

Yes, if specific criteria are met, self-defense is perfectly legal. In legal terms, self-defense is what’s known as an affirmative defense—a defense where the defendant (the defender in this instance) introduces evidence that, if found to be credible, justifies the defender’s actions for what would otherwise be an illegal act. It is important to familiarize yourself with the use of force laws of your state, as there can be many subtle differences in what the self-defender must do to have a valid claim of self-defense.

What Is Considered Self-Defense?

Self-defense is any level of physical force that you use to prevent force from being used against you. Tomake a successful claim of self-defense, several criteria must be met. (1) You should reasonably believe that the person you use force against must be able to cause bodily harm to you, a concept known as “ability.” (2) You should reasonably believe the person is able to cause bodily harm to you when the incident is occurring, a concept known as “opportunity.” (3) You must be in reasonable fear that the person you are using force against intends to use both their ability and opportunity to cause you bodily harm, right now, a concept known as “immediacy.” (4) Finally, you must not have acted in any way that would invalidate your claim of self-defense, such as attempting to bait someone into an encounter with the purpose of using force against them. It is VERY important to keep in mind that you may not respond to an attack with lethal force unless you can reasonably articulate that the attacker has the ability and opportunity to cause you death or great bodily harm during the attack. If the attacker possesses only the ability and opportunity to cause you the lesser “bodily harm,” you MUST utilize a proportional level of force.

Can You Go to Jail if You Defend Yourself?

Yes, if your claim of self-defense is found to be invalid or unreasonable, you can absolutely be convicted and sentenced to jail or prison. Keep in mind that using physical force against someone else is generally illegal, and a claim of self-defense that’s found to be valid protects the defender from the consequences of what would otherwise be a criminal act. It’s also important to remember that if you are involved in any defensiveencounter where you use any level of force against someone else, there will be some form of legal process following the incident. This process generally begins with a police investigation and arrest, whichis why many people interested in personal protection seek some form of self-defense insurance to help cover the legal fees associated with defending themselves.

Can You Kill Someone to Defend Yourself?

Yes, a valid claim of self-defense will protect you from any criminal penalty that would result from the death of the person attacking them so long as the defender acted reasonably, proportionally, and in compliance with all applicable laws. “Proportionally” means the person defending themselves must use only the level of force necessary to stop the imminent threat against them, and no more. Many of the self-defense tools in everyday use, especially a handgun or knife, have the potential to kill or seriously harm the person attacking the defender. Oftentimes, death is the unfortunate result of the force needed to stop someone who is actively attacking another person, but it is never the intended outcome. The defender must always use only the force necessary to stop the imminent threat and must never actively seek to kill someone else. Seeking to kill someone, even if they are attacking you, can be used by a prosecutor to show malice, which could weaken or defeat the defender’s claim of self-defense.

Can You Stab Someone to Defend Yourself?

Generally, yes, you can stab someone if forced to protect your life, but it may not be a good idea if you have any other option available to you. A legal claim of self-defense can be made no matter what the defender uses to protect themselves. But there are other factors to consider if you’re carrying a knife for personal protection.

The first thing to consider is whether it is even legal to carry a knife where you live. Many states with some form of permitting process for carrying a handgun have very stringent restrictions on carrying the type of knife that might actually be useful in a defensive encounter. If you get into an encounter and use a weapon that is illegal to have on your person, it won’t automatically invalidate your claim of self-defense, but a prosecutor could use it as evidence that you acted maliciously, and it may weaken your self-defense claim in other ways.

Another factor to consider is that stabbing someone requires you to be in close physical proximity to them. The closer your attacker is to you, the greater the likelihood that you may be severely injured during the attack. It is almost always better to have as much distance as possible between you and your attacker. Relying on a tool that requires you to be at close range with your attacker could have a very bad outcome.

Are Tactical Keychains Legal?

The legality of a tactical keychain is going to depend on what kind of tool is attached to the keychain and the local laws governing those tools. For instance, a cat self-defense keychain is likely to be illegal anywhere that bans brass knuckles or similar items. However, pepper spray attached to a keychain may be perfectly legal in the same state where a cat self-defense keychain is illegal. The only way to know for certain is to check your local laws that govern which weapons you can legally carry.

Self Defense 101

Self Defense 101

Can I Use Wasp Spray Instead of Pepper Spray

No, you should not use wasp spray for defensive purposes. One of the most common bad pieces of advice that well-meaning people give is the suggestion that you can use wasp spray as some form of less-lethal force. There are multiple issues with attempting to use wasp spray in this manner, but probably the biggest one is that it is simply not very effective at doing any of the things that less-lethal spray should do. In addition to being regarded as relatively ineffective by anyone who studies defensive encounters, you could potentially run into legal issues if you are in a situation where using a less-lethal option would be justified but instead spray a neurotoxin in someone’s face. If you are interested in carrying a less-lethal spray, stick with pepper spray.

What Is the Best Handgun to Buy?

Selecting any firearm is a highly personal choice, and there are many factors to consider. A person who intends to carry a handgun every day may be looking for different features and options than the person who wants a firearm primarily to keep in the home. If your primary interest is carrying a firearm on your person every day, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Uncommon handguns are uncommon for a reason. Make sure to check the aftermarket support available for any pistol you are considering purchasing. This can include anything from the holsters and sights that are available to the simple things like magazines or replacement parts on the market. It is difficult to carry a gun that does not have any quality holsters available for it due to its obscurity.

A handgun needs to fit your hand. A common mistake people make when they talk about fitting a pistol to their hand is thinking of “fit” in terms of “comfort.” To be clear, you don’t want a handgun to be uncomfortable in the hand. It’s important to remember, though, that a handgun can be comfortable in the hand but still be sized in such a way that you won’t be able to reach the trigger fully.

A general rule of thumb when checking fit is that you need to at least be able to place the first joint of your index finger on the face of the trigger when you hold the handgun in a normal firing grip, whether or not that’s the part of your finger you would actually use when shooting. If you find you have to rotate your hand around the handgun to get to the trigger, it probably doesn’t fit you.

Keep in mind when selecting a handgun that shot placement will be what wins most defensive encounters. Being able to place a “less effective” round exactly where you intend it is always better than a near miss with a “more effective” round. While it’s nice to have a handgun that’s chambered in a popular service caliber loaded with quality defensive ammo, it’s more important to worry about how you can perform with your chosen handgun than what caliber you’re carrying.

The last thing to keep in mind when selecting a handgun for self-defense is that if you intend to carry it, the handgun you select must be one that you can comfortably carry with you wherever it’s legal for you to do so. While it is true that the first rule of a gunfight is “Don’t get into a gunfight,” the second rule is equally important: “Have a gun.” Make sure that if you are selecting a gun with the intention of carrying it as part of your everyday life, you select one that you will be able to comfortably conceal in a wide range of environments and activities. While many people conceal a full-size handgun on a regular basis, not everyone will have the necessary physical real estate on their body to be able to do that.
