| State |
Justification of Actions |
Weapons |
Comments |
|
self-defense |
defending others |
on own property |
on other's property |
|
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| Alaska |
 |
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 |
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| Alabama |
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 (re: pepper spray, cane sword, carrying rifle, brass knuckles, sling shot) |
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| Arkansas |
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 |
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| Arizona |
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| California |
 |
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(re: stun gun, chuck sticks) |
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| Colorado |
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| Connecticut |
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|
 |
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| Washington DC |
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| Delaware |
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(re: knuckles, stars) |
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| Florida |
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| Georgia |
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Georgia has interesting provisions: you can't kill anyone - just like any other state - but if you do (and are charged with murder or manslaughter), you can use the "it was because I was abused" defense. This means you have a chance of letting a jury decide whether or not you were justified |
| Hawaii |
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| Iowa |
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| Idaho |
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Idaho is the only state which specifically includes justification of deadly force used by relevant people who are carrying out a death sentence. If you read the odd laws for Idaho, you'll note that only males can assist an officer in handling a riot |
| Illinois |
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(re: bludgeon,black-jack,slung-shot,sand-club, sand-bag, metal knuckles, throwing star, switchblade, ballistic knife, dagger, dirk, billy, dangerous knife, razor, stiletto, broken bottle, glass, stun gun or taser) |
|
| Indiana |
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(re: stun gun) |
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| Kansas |
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( re: bludgeon, sand club, metal knuckles or throwing star, switch-blade, gravity knife, dagger, dirk, billy, blackjack, slung shot, dangerous knife, straight-edged razor, stiletto) |
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| Kentucky |
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(not pocket knife not hunting knife, Billy, nightstick, club, Blackjack, slapjack, Nunchaku karate sticks, Shuriken, death star, Artificial knuckles) |
In Kentucky, parts of a person's body can be construed as a "dangerous weapon" (watch out martial artists!) if it is used to harm someone. My guess is, you can take your hands and feet on an airplane, but if you use them to hurt someone, they then become dangerous weapons, and you've got a real legal mess in your hands. |
| Louisiana |
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Although most other states don't spell it out, Louisiana states that one does not have to retreat when considering the use of force. This applies to homes, places of business, and cars. Other states, if spelled out, indicate you don't have to retreat if you are in your own home only. |
| Massachusetts |
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Deadly force ok for arson only |
| Maryland |
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|
(re: dirk knife, bowie knife, switchblade knife, star knife, sand club, metal knuckles, razor, Nunchaku, star knife,Nunchaku,Pepper mace) |
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| Maine |
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|
(re: knives) |
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| Michigan |
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(re: self-defense spray) |
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| Minnesota |
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| Missouri |
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| Mississippi |
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(can conceal in home or place of business) |
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| Montana |
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| North Carolina |
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| North Dakota |
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| Nebraska |
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| New Hampshire |
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| New Jersey |
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(re: pepper spray allowed; no gravity knife, switchblade knife, dagger, dirk, stiletto, billy, blackjack, metal knuckle, sand club, slingshot, cestus, stun gun, hand cuffs) |
New Jerseyans can resist lawful arrests if they think the officer is using too much force. Murky laws in NJ - very specific, but generally favors the victim re: deadly force (even for criminal mischief). Burglars beware! |
| New Mexico |
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| Nevada |
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laws are oddly-worded, all other states have similar wording except Nevada |
| New York |
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(re: stun gun, pepper spray, chuck stick, stars, stilettos, knives, cane sword) |
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| Ohio |
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| Oklahoma |
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has law prohibiting assault on coach or ref In Oklahoma, you better not be working or swearing on the Sabbath |
| Oregon |
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deadly force ok for arson or robbery attempt on your property |
| Pennsylvania |
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| Rhode Island |
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(re: pepper spray) |
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| South Carolina |
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| South Dakota |
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| Tennessee |
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| Texas |
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allows threat of deadly force when physical or deadly force is allowed; threat does not mean use of deadly force Texas allows use of booby traps as long as they don't cause substantial injury Texas explicitly allows for the use of deadly force in order to preserve the other's life "in an emergency". Texas is weird: I wouldn't want to be neither the burglar nor the homeowner when a confrontation exists; the burglar risks being justly killed, and the homeowner risks prosecution under some statutes and justification by others. Texans are justified in resisting arrest if they think the officer is using more force to arrest him than is necessary Texas seems to be the only state where retreat (or attempted retreat) is required - even if in own home - before deadly force can be used when retreat fails |
| Utah |
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| Virginia |
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(re: pistol, revolver, dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, razor, slingshot, spring stick, metal knucks, blackjack; nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain) |
Regulation of martial arts instruction |
| Vermont |
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|
(re: slung shot, blackjack, brass knuckles) |
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| Washington |
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(re: pepper spray) |
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| Wisconsin |
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| West Virginia |
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| Wyoming |
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- Can't point paragraph