self defense

October 4, 2024

When Domestic Violence Victims Have Had Enough

A woman confided in her brother about her husband’s threats and abuse. They mulled over various ways to eliminate her abuser, who had dragged her through dog feces, gripped her hand in order to break the glass she was holding, causing the shards to slice her hand, pulled her hair, and punched her. Worse yet, he had threatened to murder their two children when she left him once. The woman had twice called the police to report the domestic violence but discovered that officers appeared unwilling to do anything more than advise the couple to work out their problems. That led the woman’s brother to take matters into his own hands, and after some friends lured his sister’s abusive husband to a remote site, he shot and killed the man. Both the abuse victim and her brother went to prison with life sentences. That was in 1984. The brother died in prison. The woman is still there.

The Castle Doctrine

Four decades later, not a lot has changed when it comes to women killing their abusers. The castle doctrine– a 17th-century law that embraced its European homeland– gives any man the right to protect himself and his property—which includes his wife and children– when attacked. When not within the confines of his home, conversely, a man was expected to retreat when attacked. But that all changed in 1876 with the development of the true man doctrine. It stated that a “true man” would never retreat from a conflict. This developed into states creating stand your ground laws in 2005. Such laws give people in some states the right to defend themselves in their homes, cars, hotel rooms, and so forth when under attack, as well as in public spaces. However, in California, public spaces are a different matter, and retreating is required if lethality is not necessary. At any rate, these laws were not written to apply to domestic violence situations because both individuals in a home have the right to be there. In other words, one can protect oneself from dangerous threats originating from outside the home but not from those spewing up inside, where victims of domestic violence are at the greatest risk.

April 5, 2024

Self-Defense in California

by David M. Boertje

If, while defending yourself, someone else, or property, you caused harm to another individual, it’s possible you could be charged with a crime like assault, battery, or even, in the most extreme situation, murder. But you were only defending yourself, so how is this possible? Sometimes it takes a court of law to sort things out and come to an equitable and just conclusion. And when self-defense is a factor, having a good attorney to represent your interests is important.

Legal Requirements for Self-Defense

In California, there are three key elements that must be proven when self-defense is claimed:

You were in imminent danger of being harmed, touched illegally, or killed: This means that the danger was right in front of you, and you had to react to prevent it.
You had a reasonable belief that you needed to react with force in order to address the harm headed your way: Even if you were mistaken in your perception of danger, if you had reason to believe you were in a precarious situation, your violent response may be considered reasonable by a jury.
You used just enough force to eliminate the threat: If your use of force was not proportionate to the threat, it is not a viable defense, meaning if someone slaps you and you beat them to death, you have probably exceeded the force necessary to protect yourself.

Stand Your Ground

Under California law, you are not required to back down or try to run away when facing a threat. You have every right to protect yourself and others when necessary. When it comes to property, it is legally permitted to protect yours and others’ too.

Deadly Force

Deadly force is allowable if that’s what it takes to provide a proper defense. Additionally, as per the Castle Doctrine, you are always allowed to use deadly force when protecting against a home invasion. Even if you do not know the intent or the types of weapons an intruder may have, you are fully within your rights to use deadly force. That’s because when someone forcibly enters your home, it can be assumed they are up to no good, and it is reasonable to believe they will cause harm to you, your family, and/or your property. Continue reading

November 13, 2015

Green Beret Facing Charges for Beating Molester

by David M. Boertje

During the last Afghan civil war, the warlords that ruled their territory later became U.S. allies in our fight against the Taliban in Iraq. Now, an American Green Beret, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland, who refused to ignore the child molestations he witnessed overseas, is fighting for his career. Mr. Martland beat an Afghan militiaman who kidnapped a 12-year-old boy and chained him to his bed as a sex slave whilst stationed in Afghanistan. He was formally reprimanded for assaulting an Afghan police officer, and he is not the only one (Sgt. Dan Quinn was punished for freeing a child back in September). Soldiers who are sent overseas are often instructed to ignore the corruption and violence committed upon the local populace.

While this sad story occurred overseas, it is a stark reminder that Americans face criminal charges or legal consequences every day for defending themselves or others in need from danger.

Self Defense as a Legal Defense