Self-defense serves as a legal justification in which the action taken was the “right” or “good” thing to do, given the circumstances of the situation. To advance a claim of self-defense, the danger to the individual must be imminent, and the force used must be both necessary and proportional. The individual must reasonably believe that the amount of force used is necessary, without being excessive, to prevent great bodily harm or death. The instrument used in armed self-defense can take a lethal form, such as a gun or knife, or nonlethal form, such as pepper spray or handheld stun gun. However, these two categories are not exclusive. Self-defense can also be unarmed, in which an individual learns an array of techniques, specifically martial ...

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