We believe that every person has the right to defend him/herself or others from immediate threats to their security. The right to self-defense should be, however, subject to two restrictions:
- Proportionality
- Subsidiarity
Proportionality means that the methods used for self-defense should be on par with the actual threat. For instance it is in general not acceptable to use lethal force against an unarmed thief.
Subsidiarity means that one should choose the method of self-defense with the least amount of collateral damage. If one is threatened and one could bring himself in safety by running away, than it is not justified to pull a gun and to kill one’s attacker.
Most times people don’t apply proportionate force which is sad, very sad.
Yes, it very sad. Nevertheless people should apply appropriate force and courts should take this into account.
That’s precisely why the recent advent of the so-called “Stand-Your-Ground” laws in the U.S. are so dangerously wrongheaded.
An important distinction to have underwriting all concerned laws. Well done.