Do major disasters and times of civil unrest change the rules surrounding the legal use of deadly force? During these times, it’s likely law enforcement will be overwhelmed. Emergency response that used to take minutes (when seconds count) could now take hours. Should responses from responsible gun owners change too?
Attorney Tom Grieve says to first keep in mind that the law doesn’t change. To apply deadly force, there needs to be an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm. The language may change based on location, but the legality of it will not.
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The context behind the incident may change. And that’s what could sway a jury one way or another. Grieve’s bottom line, though, treat times of disaster or unrest the same as any other time. The law doesn’t change, and you will be responsible to show how you were confronting a deadly threat.
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