From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Self-defence
means fighting off something or another person to protect yourself and maybe others. Ways of self-defence include
martial arts
or using a
weapon
. Sometimes, self-defense can cause serious harm to the other person. In most nations, you cannot be
prosecuted
for this harm. In the United States, an act of self-defence can only count as self-defence if the victim is in a situation that can cause them serious injury or death. In
international law
all persons have the right to self-defence.
[1]
The law of self-defence is the same when you protect others. Generally, you must have a good reason or belief that you needed to defend yourself in self-defence. However, in many places, if the court decides that the defence may have been too extreme, the person may face criminal and civil charges.