7.)
What legal principles can be used to justify self-defense? Given that the law seeks to prevent crime—not promote it—are such principles sound?
There are a few different principles used to justify self-defense. The first legal element that can justify self-defense includes imminence, meaning for the defendant to act, the threat must be happening or about to happen. Another element that can justify the use of self-defense is proportionality; this means that the force used must be proportionate to the threat the defender was faced with. A third element that can be used to justify self-defense is reasonable belief meaning the defender must have a reasonable belief that the force used is necessary to prevent harm to themselves or others. A fourth element that can be used to justify self-defense is avoidance this means that some jurisdictions require that the defender
must attempt to retreat or avoid confrontation before resorting to force if it is safe to do so.
