The Use of Force in Self-Defense
By: Richard Hake
Tags: Security, Gun Violence, Self Defense, Firearms, Guns

The Use of Force in Self-Defense

Typical handgun for protection

In this day and age it is hard to feel safe. We read reports of attacks on innocent people on the street, and even home invasions. Having been a security professional I can say no one can be assured of safety one-hundred percent of the time. However, you can put the odds in your favor to either avoid most threats or minimize the effects of the events.

First a disclaimer; I am not a lawyer nor do I play a lawyer on TV. I have had nearly 30 years experience in security & law enforcement. My experience ranges from small town law enforcement, industrial security management to the federal level. I worked within the laws of jurisdictions in cities and counties in four states and 3 countries. I said all that to say even though I have that experience the one thing I need to share with you is laws are different in different jurisdictions. Laws change from time to time. Your local laws may say something is okay, but the Federal law says it isn’t. So be warned the penalties for violation of laws concerning weapons are serious and can be life altering. Concerning the weapons we will be discussing check with your local District Attorney or Police department to find out if they are legal where you live. Just because a national online retail company will sell them to you doesn’t mean they are legal. They just want your money.

Across all jurisdictions it is generally accepted that you may use reasonable force to defend yourself, and/or the life of someone else. The term ‘reasonable force’ may rise to the level of deadly force if you are truly in fear of your life or serious bodily harm.

I won’t be discussing guns in this article because there is a lot of information online and locally for you to check out. If you plan on buying a firearm you should plan on some training in its care and use, and you also get some training in the laws of your locality regarding using it in a legal manner.

Oregon State laws where I live gives the following definition;

“Weapon” means:

(a) A firearm;

(b) Any dirk, dagger, ice pick, slingshot, metal knuckles or any similar instrument or a knife, other than an ordinary pocketknife with a blade less than four inches in length, the use of which could inflict injury upon a person or property;

© Mace, tear gas, pepper mace or any similar deleterious agent as defined in ORS 163.211;

(d) An electrical stun gun or any similar instrument;

(e) A tear gas weapon as defined in ORS 163.211;

(f) A club, bat, baton, billy club, bludgeon, knobkerrie, nunchaku, nightstick, truncheon or any similar instrument, the use of which could inflict injury upon a person or property; or

(g) A dangerous or deadly weapon as those terms are defined in ORS 161.015. [1969 c.705 §1; 1977 c.769 §2; 1979 c.398 §1; 1989 c.982 §4; 1993 c.741 §2; 1999 c.577 §2; 1999 c.782 §6; 2001 c.201 §1; 2015 c.351 §1]

Gloves with plastic knuckles are becoming more popular and while not mentioned here may be illegal as well. Possessing any sort of metal, or hard plastic over your knuckles, which can be worn on your hands and used to hit someone and cause them serious injury, or even death, could be illegal. Before buying something like this you might want to check with the DA or local police on this one.

Almost all of the above weapons are illegal in certain settings like courts, public buildings, parks, etc. Also even if they are legal if they are open carried may be considered illegal if concealed.



Do your due diligence — ask the DA or local Police for compliance assurance. Penalties are stiff.

If you have had some training in fighting arts prosecutors will try to prove you’re a trained killer. Yes even though 30 years ago when you were 15 you went to a local karate club once a week for 3 months. Even if the guy threatening you tripped on his shoe-laces and when he fell he hit his head on a curb hard enough to kill himself.

In summary, unless you are cornered and can’t get away leave, don’t let your pride get you into a fight. Be calm, don’t escalate the situation, walk or run if you have to. The costs of ‘Being a man’ just isn’t worth the trouble that the incident could cause.

Don’t go near places where violent or hot-heads are protesting. These places are notorious for drawing bystanders in close enough to get actively involved.

Guns or other concealed weapons give a false sense of security, and are appropriate in very dire circumstances like carjacking, home invasion or when your back is against the wall. Your firearms could be used against you if you are not highly trained. Don’t tell me it would never happen to you. When I was a police officer I read FBI reports of other police officers being killed with their own guns.

If you have a firearm for protection or even for hunting get some training on a tactical range. These courses are set up to get your heart pumping by running, jumping and dodging with pop-up targets of criminals & innocent women holding their babies. It will give you a sense of stress in training that may save your life or the life of an innocent person.

The goal is to be safe, and yet trained to recognize threatening situations and apply all your training and instincts to survive another day.

Finally, survival training with weapons can lead a normal rational adult to exhibiting paranoid traits. Please keep in mind the things you are preparing for are rare occurrences. Don’t go crazy and drive your wife nuts, and your friends away. Just keep your training in the back of your mind saved for a bad day, which probably will never happen.