Higher education pays off!

asomotif · 16th September 2009, 11:39 PM

Here in the Netherlands you are also supposed to retreat if possible.

So even in your own house retreat should be the best option.

Well lets just hope it will not happen.
A large part of my edged weapons is mandau's and personally I don't find them very handy, especially indoors they are not my weapon of choice

Maybe I should get myself a nice Wakizashi

t_c · 17th September 2009, 12:06 AM

A sad story all around: An unnecessary (and apparently unintentional) death and possibly a ruined future. A diploma from John Hopkins would have served the student a lot better then felon status in the US job market. A teacher of mine once said (and I'm inclined to agree) "There is no such thing as self-defense with a knife" (or sword for that matter). Edged weapons are not tools for restraint or submission. I fear a jury will come to the same conclusion.

If I ever have an unexpected visitor I hope I have the clarity and calm to remember my friend's advice: "offer them a cup of tea." I know, crazy Buddhists, but I think he might be on to something....

ariel · 17th September 2009, 12:45 AM

As a matter of fact, some of the members of this Forum are, in fact, lawyers. They may explain to all of us salient points of the law (US, of course).
All of us have sharp and pointy things in our houses and many ( I would think most) do not have firearms: I do not.
Thus, if, and when, we are confronted with a similar situation, tulwars, koras and kindjals are the only means we have to defend ourselves and our families. My understanding, in the US, one does not have to retreat from an armed intruder into our house, especially at night.
When can we use deadly force? What are the legal limits we are not allowed to cross? What circumstances allow us to claim legitimate self-defense and prevail?

I ain't no joking, folks.

M ELEY · 17th September 2009, 01:54 AM

Content deleted...

fearn · 17th September 2009, 02:52 AM

Hi Ariel,

I'm NOT a lawyer, but I can tell you that the law varies by state. Every reference I've seen notes that, so I assume it's true.

As both Rick and I noted, the key words are "I am in fear for my life." I was only half joking about engraving these words on the hilt of your lethal self-defense implements. It's a good reminder for when you're supposed to use them as they were designed.

Anyway, Wikipedia has various useful links to start from:

Right of Self Defense

Self defense in the US

Castle Doctrine (This is the "man's home is his castle" concept, and deals with when you have a legal duty to retreat and when you can legally stand your ground).

As noted, the laws vary by state, not to mention by country, but this is a place to start looking up what those laws.

Best,

F

17th September 2009, 01:54 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Content deleted... Last edited by M ELEY; 17th September 2009 at 02:33 AM.

16th September 2009, 11:39 PM	#1
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	Here in the Netherlands you are also supposed to retreat if possible. So even in your own house retreat should be the best option. Well lets just hope it will not happen. A large part of my edged weapons is mandau's and personally I don't find them very handy, especially indoors they are not my weapon of choice Maybe I should get myself a nice Wakizashi

17th September 2009, 12:06 AM	#2
t_c Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ca, usa Posts: 92	A sad story all around: An unnecessary (and apparently unintentional) death and possibly a ruined future. A diploma from John Hopkins would have served the student a lot better then felon status in the US job market. A teacher of mine once said (and I'm inclined to agree) "There is no such thing as self-defense with a knife" (or sword for that matter). Edged weapons are not tools for restraint or submission. I fear a jury will come to the same conclusion. If I ever have an unexpected visitor I hope I have the clarity and calm to remember my friend's advice: "offer them a cup of tea." I know, crazy Buddhists, but I think he might be on to something....

17th September 2009, 12:45 AM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	As a matter of fact, some of the members of this Forum are, in fact, lawyers. They may explain to all of us salient points of the law (US, of course). All of us have sharp and pointy things in our houses and many ( I would think most) do not have firearms: I do not. Thus, if, and when, we are confronted with a similar situation, tulwars, koras and kindjals are the only means we have to defend ourselves and our families. My understanding, in the US, one does not have to retreat from an armed intruder into our house, especially at night. When can we use deadly force? What are the legal limits we are not allowed to cross? What circumstances allow us to claim legitimate self-defense and prevail? I ain't no joking, folks.

17th September 2009, 02:52 AM	#5
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Ariel, I'm NOT a lawyer, but I can tell you that the law varies by state. Every reference I've seen notes that, so I assume it's true. As both Rick and I noted, the key words are "I am in fear for my life." I was only half joking about engraving these words on the hilt of your lethal self-defense implements. It's a good reminder for when you're supposed to use them as they were designed. Anyway, Wikipedia has various useful links to start from: Right of Self Defense Self defense in the US Castle Doctrine (This is the "man's home is his castle" concept, and deals with when you have a legal duty to retreat and when you can legally stand your ground). As noted, the laws vary by state, not to mention by country, but this is a place to start looking up what those laws. Best, F