Use of ForceQuestion 80 of 200
California self-defense law (PC §692-§694; CALCRIM 505) requires force be:
a.Maximum force the defender can muster
b.Identical in type to the attack
c.Always non-lethal
d.Reasonably necessary to defend against the threat, proportionate to the threat perceived, and used only as long as the threat exists
Explanation
California self-defense law (codified in §§692-694, articulated in CALCRIM 505) requires that the defender (1) reasonably believed in imminent danger of harm, (2) used force reasonably necessary to defend against that danger, and (3) used no more force than reasonably necessary. The force must cease when the threat ends. Maximum or like-kind responses (a, b) are not the standard; non-lethal-only (c) is wrong — deadly force is permitted to meet a deadly threat. The reasonableness is judged on what a reasonable person would have believed under the circumstances.
Law Reference: Cal. Penal Code §692; CALCRIM 505Practice all 200 questions free — no signup required.
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