One of the reasons that individuals have the right to bear arms is for protection. However, it is important for gun owners to be able to distinguish between a situation in which they are threatened and a situation in which lethal force is not justified. Knowing when the legal use of deadly force in Michigan is justifiable allows you as a gun user to ensure that you are able to preserve your right to protection, without infringing on the rights or safeties of anyone else. If you want to know more about deadly force, and when using a gun is justified, consult a knowledgeable gun lawyer.
When Deadly Force is JustifiedIt is imperative that gun owners learn the answer to the important question of when they can legally use deadly force against another person.
Because all firearms have the ability to deliver deadly force, being a responsible gun owner means understanding when a person is justified in their legal use of deadly force in Michigan. Failing to understand this law might mean being charged with a serious crime.
The primary Michigan statutes dealing with self-defense and defense of other people are contained in three Michigan Penal Code Sections:
The law of justified self-defense is split between justification for the use of force in § 780.972 and the presumptions involving the use of deadly force in § 780.951.
Michigan gun owners must understand when these legal presumptions of reasonableness are available because they can be powerful legal defenses if a person ends up being charged with the unlawful use of force.
Michigan Self-Defense ActIt is important for Michigan gun owners to know and understand the defenses found in section 780.972 of the Michigan Penal Code entitled "the Self-Defense Act." This self-defense act explains when is it legal to use force or deadly force against another person and when is it legal to threaten to use force or deadly force against another.
According to Michigan's Self-Defense Act, section 780.972, the use of deadly force is justified when a person believes there is an imminent threat of death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault.
This means a person in Michigan acting in self-defense may have a legal justification, meaning an acceptable reason or excuse under the law for taking an action (use of deadly force) that would otherwise be a crime.
Understanding Michigan Gun Law With the Help of a LawyerA gun owner should know when they can legally shoot because ignorance of the law holds no weight in a courtroom. Also, one must keep in mind that it is the jury who will decide if a licensed gun owner's case will result in a guilty verdict or a verdict of acquittal. A jury may be inclined to hold a CPL holder to a higher standard because of the CPL because they might assume this means the gun owner knows the law.
Knowing the law is critical so that a gun owner is in the best possible position to preserve their legal rights should they ever need to defend them. If you want to know more about legal use of deadly force in Michigan, or if you have been unjustly charged with legal use of deadly force, seek the legal counsel of a qualified gun attorney.