General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: If Zimmerman was injured then it was self-defense by Trayvon Martin [View all]TheWraith
(24,331 posts)Every state I'm aware of provides for the use of deadly force to prevent certain crimes, but that's usually restricted to persons caught in the act of FORCIBLE felonies, and the use of force is limited to stopping the crime. The distinction is that "forcible felonies" is a much shorter list, usually consisting of murder, rape, assault, battery, kidnapping, or attempting to commit any of the above. Here in New York, however, robbery is also considered a forcible felony (while kidnapping isn't), and moreover force is authorized for use on criminals fleeing from a forcible felony, whereas in most other states it is not.
Put another way, in most states you are legally able to shoot and kill someone in the act of, say, attempted rape, but if they turn and run it becomes illegal to kill them. In New York you can chase down someone who's just committed attempted rape, and shoot them if need be to stop them from escaping.
Funny how that always misses the notice of the people who talk about Florida derisively as a "wild west."
However, my point about SELF-defense laws is the same--even New York doesn't allow you to pursue someone who assaulted you and then still claim self-defense, for the simple reason that beyond a certain point the "defender" becomes the aggressor.