Is It Illegal to Carry Around Pepper Spray?
No, it isn’t illegal to carry around pepper spray. You can legally carry it in all 50 states and Washington D.C. for self-defense, but it’s important to know the local regulations, as they vary greatly. Most states set the minimum age at 18 and may limit the canister size and the concentration of the active […]
Navigating the Tightrope: The Golden Hour of Self-Defense and the 5P Framework
In the legality following a self-defense incident, the initial moments—often called the “Golden Hour”—can significantly influence the trajectory of legal proceedings. The concept of the Golden Hour highlights a critical timeframe surrounding a self-defense scenario, where actions taken and words spoken can either solidify your stance as a law-abiding citizen acting in self-defense or cast […]
West Virginia’s Workplace Revolution: A Victory for Employee Protection
In a significant move towards bolstering workplace safety and employee rights, the West Virginia House of Delegates has passed a groundbreaking bill that shields employees from termination should they need to defend themselves from physical attacks while on the job. Under the newly passed House Bill 5621, employees who find themselves facing physical aggression from […]
Initial Aggressor Doctrine in Self-Defense
The initial aggressor doctrine is a legal doctrine that holds that a person who initiates a physical confrontation loses the right to claim self-defense. This doctrine is based on the idea that a person who starts a fight cannot claim that they were acting in self-defense, because they were the ones who created the situation […]
What is a Reasonable Person?
A reasonable person is a hypothetical individual who is used as a standard of conduct in negligence law. The reasonable person is someone who is careful and prudent, and who takes the necessary steps to avoid harming others. The reasonable person standard is used to determine whether a person’s actions were negligent and whether they […]
Judicious Use of Deadly Force and Use of Force Continuum
I have touched on the judicious use of force and the use of force continuum in previous posts. But this topic warrants a full article on its own. I am not a lawyer, but this will be a basic primer if you are not well-versed in it. Your best option would be to follow up […]