Self Defence and Jail
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 1:06 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/04/us/th ... pe=article
Knowing how to defend yourself and being prepared is important. If you don't have a plan, get on it.
But, knowing the legal implications of using force in your state, country, city, etc is just as important. Otherwise, you're just training to go to jail. And lots of hungry dudes in the showers...
For example,
I used to carry a ku baton around as a keychain. Harmless right? Until I dated a girl who's sister is a criminal defence lawyer in my city. She personally defended clients that had been charged with carrying and using a weapon for having a ku baton in their pocket. Sure, she did her best to keep the sentence down, but still, they were charged with an offence.
I stopped carrying the ku baton around after that. Turns out, that you can only use a weapon of opportunity in Canada. This doesn't include a bat, a knife you carry in your pocket, or even a glass bottle. It might be permissible to use a rock on the ground, or a chair in the bar. But you have to be careful that you use no more force than is necessary to get away and escape the situation. Sadly this is true even in your own home. Notice there's nothing about teaching the other guy a lesson. Or helping a friend win a bar fight.
In many other places however, it's perfectly legal however to pull out a gun and shoot an intruded in your home. But you have to be able to prove that there was a reasonable threat to your safety. Clearly in this case, the court decided that a drunk 19 girl banging on a locked door wasn't deserving of a lethal shot. The consequences for the home owner are pretty severe.
I'd highly recommend taking some time a researching the local laws where you are.
Also, my Krav Maga instructor recommended the book Meditations on Violence by Sargent Rory Miller. Where he explores the limitations of martial arts training in his experience as a tactical squad leader and prison guard. He gives an excellent break down of the different types of violence so you can recognize what you are facing and make the right choice, talk, run, or fight. Depending on the situation, the wrong choice could make the situation a whole lot worse.
Knowing how to defend yourself and being prepared is important. If you don't have a plan, get on it.
But, knowing the legal implications of using force in your state, country, city, etc is just as important. Otherwise, you're just training to go to jail. And lots of hungry dudes in the showers...
For example,
I used to carry a ku baton around as a keychain. Harmless right? Until I dated a girl who's sister is a criminal defence lawyer in my city. She personally defended clients that had been charged with carrying and using a weapon for having a ku baton in their pocket. Sure, she did her best to keep the sentence down, but still, they were charged with an offence.
I stopped carrying the ku baton around after that. Turns out, that you can only use a weapon of opportunity in Canada. This doesn't include a bat, a knife you carry in your pocket, or even a glass bottle. It might be permissible to use a rock on the ground, or a chair in the bar. But you have to be careful that you use no more force than is necessary to get away and escape the situation. Sadly this is true even in your own home. Notice there's nothing about teaching the other guy a lesson. Or helping a friend win a bar fight.
In many other places however, it's perfectly legal however to pull out a gun and shoot an intruded in your home. But you have to be able to prove that there was a reasonable threat to your safety. Clearly in this case, the court decided that a drunk 19 girl banging on a locked door wasn't deserving of a lethal shot. The consequences for the home owner are pretty severe.
I'd highly recommend taking some time a researching the local laws where you are.
Also, my Krav Maga instructor recommended the book Meditations on Violence by Sargent Rory Miller. Where he explores the limitations of martial arts training in his experience as a tactical squad leader and prison guard. He gives an excellent break down of the different types of violence so you can recognize what you are facing and make the right choice, talk, run, or fight. Depending on the situation, the wrong choice could make the situation a whole lot worse.
