Darren Laur
New member
Self-Protection and Tactical Response Options Theory:
Prelude:
I am not a lawyer (just a street cop) and therefore, I am not giving legal advice. The purpose of this post is to bring to light some of the issues surrounding the legalities of self defence. One must know the laws of their specific country and ensure that any action taken in self defence falls within those laws. This post is for information only
Darren
When it comes to using force there are specific legal constraints placed upon citizens in a self defense situation. It is very important to understand that when it comes to using force, you will be held accountable, both criminally and civilly for your actions.
In my opinion, the number one legal issue when using force in a self defence situation will be, was the amount of force used to defend yourself “reasonable” the word reasonable, however, will mean different things to different people. What is a reasonable level of force to you may not be a reasonable level of force to a judge and or jury.
Tactical Response Options brings the issue of reasonable force into a set of steps or continuum which you, the police, and the courts can usually agree upon
What is the “Tactical Response Options Theory ?” it is a way that one can place any situation they find themselves in from non-violent to extremely violent and match it against a reasonable tactical response option which you may have to use in a self defence situation. There are seven categories in this theory:
PRESENCE:
Your physical presence is in fact a tactical response option. Prior to any physical confrontation, an opponent will usually size you up. If you are a person who keeps in good physical shape, then the predator will more than likely leave you alone and pick an easier target. If, however, you look like an oil slick in a bag that could not fight their way out of a wet paper bag, then you are a prime target for the street criminal. I call this “Force Presence”, and if you have it you send a clear message to a possible attacker that says “Don’t mess with me unless you’re willing to get hurt
How many times have you looked at a person who you have never seen before and said “ I would not want to mess with that guy” That is force presence. To have this tool will provide you with an added edge on the street
DIALOUGE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
There are basically two ways that we communicate with others:
a) verbally
b) non-verbally
always remember, if the voice and body don’t match, always believe the body ( see my post of Ritualized Combat)
EMPTY HAND COMPLIANCE TECHINQUES:
These techniques would include such things as:
- balance displacement
- superior physical strength or numbers
- pain compliance
- lever and joint manipulations
- throws and takedowns
- mechanical control techniques
Although individual empty hand compliance techniques may offer physical control by themselves, they may also offer physical control by combining with other techniques. A good example of this would be the rear bent arm shoulder lock which is usually used as a restraining technique. Although this hold would be characterized as a lever and joint manipulation technique, it also incorporates balance displacement, superior physical strength, pain compliance and a takedown, if required.
The degree to which empty hand compliance techniques will work to control an individual are dependant upon:
1) speed and strength of application: As most empty hand compliance techniques involve some kind of grapple, it is very important that the person applying the technique does so quickly and with power. If an empty hand compliance technique is applied half heartedly, it would surely fail and leave you in a position of physical disadvantage.
2) Precision of application: This is very important when it comes to pain compliance and lever/joint manipulations. In order for these two techniques to work with maximum results, you have to be target specific.
3) Resistance level of the subject: Empty hand compliance techniques should only be attempted on those individuals who are:
a) passively aggressive, or
b) stunned to the point where they are no longer actively aggressive
At no time should an empty hand compliance technique be used as a first force response option when faced with a person who is actively aggressive or, you reasonably believe is about to become actively aggressive. To attempt such an action in a dynamic situation would place the defender in serious jeopardy unless very skilled and even then, the use of these techniques are questionable.
EMPTY HAND IMPACT TECHNIQUES:
Empty hand impact techniques are those techniques which employ punches, kicks, elbows, knees and other similar techniques which involve delivering a traumatic blow to another person. These types of techniques are usually used to:
- close or create distance
- distract a subject to whom it is being applied
- enhance an empty hand control technique
The use of empty hand impact techniques can be used , when appropriate and reasonable to do, in the following ways:
a) To cause a motor dysfunction or stunning effect: this level of force would be applied to the major muscle masses or pressure points of the limbs and torso. Application of force to these body targets usually result in no long term physical effects other than bruising
b) To break bone or cartilage: If a motor dysfunction or stunning technique failed, o was inappropriate and unreasonable given the totality of the circumstances, this level of force would be applied to the joints and bones of the body. The defender must reasonably believe that they are in danger of serious bodily injury and that there are no other reasonable options available other than the use of these breaking techniques to defend themselves with.
c) Deadly force: In order for the defender to use an empty hand impact technique as a deadly force response option, certain criteria must be present:
1) the attacker must have the means to carry out the threat of death or serious bodily injury to the defender or someone under their protection. The means could include but is not limited to gun, knife, club, or any other weapon or, the attacker may be skilled fighter who has trained his ability to be deadly.
2) The attacker has the intent to carry out the threat of death or serious bodily injury to the defender or someone under his protection
3) The defender feels that his life of the life of a person under his protection is in jeopardy of death or serious bodily injury, and
4) That other lower tactical response options had failed or were inappropriate and/or unreasonable to be used given the totality of the circumstances to have stopped the threat of death or serious bodily injury to the defender or another person under his protection
All four conditions must be present in order for deadly force to be used. If faced with these four conditions, a defender may be justified in attacking those vital targets of the body which could cause death or serious bodily injury such as the throat, or spine.
WEAPONS:
It is generally accepted that there are three categories of weapons:
1) Impact weapons
2) Edged/pointed weapons
3) Firearms
Impact weapons:
Impact weapons include anything that you can grab, real or improvised, which can be used to hit another person. The biggest benefit of impact weapons are:
1) reach advantage
2) improved striking power over empty hand impact techniques
3) speed
The use of impact weapons can be used, when appropriate and reasonable to do so, in the following ways:
1) implied force presence: by producing an impact weapon the situation is deescalated to the point where the attacker halts his physical attack
2) mechanical control: here the defender may use an impact weapon to assist in the application of an empty hand compliance technique. Eg the use of a pool cue to apply an arm lock
3) to cause a motor dysfunction: this level of force would be applied to the major muscle masses or pressure points of the limbs and torso. Application of force to these body targets usually result in no long term physical effects other than bruising
4) to break bone or cartilage
5) deadly force:
Prelude:
I am not a lawyer (just a street cop) and therefore, I am not giving legal advice. The purpose of this post is to bring to light some of the issues surrounding the legalities of self defence. One must know the laws of their specific country and ensure that any action taken in self defence falls within those laws. This post is for information only
Darren
When it comes to using force there are specific legal constraints placed upon citizens in a self defense situation. It is very important to understand that when it comes to using force, you will be held accountable, both criminally and civilly for your actions.
In my opinion, the number one legal issue when using force in a self defence situation will be, was the amount of force used to defend yourself “reasonable” the word reasonable, however, will mean different things to different people. What is a reasonable level of force to you may not be a reasonable level of force to a judge and or jury.
Tactical Response Options brings the issue of reasonable force into a set of steps or continuum which you, the police, and the courts can usually agree upon
What is the “Tactical Response Options Theory ?” it is a way that one can place any situation they find themselves in from non-violent to extremely violent and match it against a reasonable tactical response option which you may have to use in a self defence situation. There are seven categories in this theory:
PRESENCE:
Your physical presence is in fact a tactical response option. Prior to any physical confrontation, an opponent will usually size you up. If you are a person who keeps in good physical shape, then the predator will more than likely leave you alone and pick an easier target. If, however, you look like an oil slick in a bag that could not fight their way out of a wet paper bag, then you are a prime target for the street criminal. I call this “Force Presence”, and if you have it you send a clear message to a possible attacker that says “Don’t mess with me unless you’re willing to get hurt
How many times have you looked at a person who you have never seen before and said “ I would not want to mess with that guy” That is force presence. To have this tool will provide you with an added edge on the street
DIALOUGE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
There are basically two ways that we communicate with others:
a) verbally
b) non-verbally
always remember, if the voice and body don’t match, always believe the body ( see my post of Ritualized Combat)
EMPTY HAND COMPLIANCE TECHINQUES:
These techniques would include such things as:
- balance displacement
- superior physical strength or numbers
- pain compliance
- lever and joint manipulations
- throws and takedowns
- mechanical control techniques
Although individual empty hand compliance techniques may offer physical control by themselves, they may also offer physical control by combining with other techniques. A good example of this would be the rear bent arm shoulder lock which is usually used as a restraining technique. Although this hold would be characterized as a lever and joint manipulation technique, it also incorporates balance displacement, superior physical strength, pain compliance and a takedown, if required.
The degree to which empty hand compliance techniques will work to control an individual are dependant upon:
1) speed and strength of application: As most empty hand compliance techniques involve some kind of grapple, it is very important that the person applying the technique does so quickly and with power. If an empty hand compliance technique is applied half heartedly, it would surely fail and leave you in a position of physical disadvantage.
2) Precision of application: This is very important when it comes to pain compliance and lever/joint manipulations. In order for these two techniques to work with maximum results, you have to be target specific.
3) Resistance level of the subject: Empty hand compliance techniques should only be attempted on those individuals who are:
a) passively aggressive, or
b) stunned to the point where they are no longer actively aggressive
At no time should an empty hand compliance technique be used as a first force response option when faced with a person who is actively aggressive or, you reasonably believe is about to become actively aggressive. To attempt such an action in a dynamic situation would place the defender in serious jeopardy unless very skilled and even then, the use of these techniques are questionable.
EMPTY HAND IMPACT TECHNIQUES:
Empty hand impact techniques are those techniques which employ punches, kicks, elbows, knees and other similar techniques which involve delivering a traumatic blow to another person. These types of techniques are usually used to:
- close or create distance
- distract a subject to whom it is being applied
- enhance an empty hand control technique
The use of empty hand impact techniques can be used , when appropriate and reasonable to do, in the following ways:
a) To cause a motor dysfunction or stunning effect: this level of force would be applied to the major muscle masses or pressure points of the limbs and torso. Application of force to these body targets usually result in no long term physical effects other than bruising
b) To break bone or cartilage: If a motor dysfunction or stunning technique failed, o was inappropriate and unreasonable given the totality of the circumstances, this level of force would be applied to the joints and bones of the body. The defender must reasonably believe that they are in danger of serious bodily injury and that there are no other reasonable options available other than the use of these breaking techniques to defend themselves with.
c) Deadly force: In order for the defender to use an empty hand impact technique as a deadly force response option, certain criteria must be present:
1) the attacker must have the means to carry out the threat of death or serious bodily injury to the defender or someone under their protection. The means could include but is not limited to gun, knife, club, or any other weapon or, the attacker may be skilled fighter who has trained his ability to be deadly.
2) The attacker has the intent to carry out the threat of death or serious bodily injury to the defender or someone under his protection
3) The defender feels that his life of the life of a person under his protection is in jeopardy of death or serious bodily injury, and
4) That other lower tactical response options had failed or were inappropriate and/or unreasonable to be used given the totality of the circumstances to have stopped the threat of death or serious bodily injury to the defender or another person under his protection
All four conditions must be present in order for deadly force to be used. If faced with these four conditions, a defender may be justified in attacking those vital targets of the body which could cause death or serious bodily injury such as the throat, or spine.
WEAPONS:
It is generally accepted that there are three categories of weapons:
1) Impact weapons
2) Edged/pointed weapons
3) Firearms
Impact weapons:
Impact weapons include anything that you can grab, real or improvised, which can be used to hit another person. The biggest benefit of impact weapons are:
1) reach advantage
2) improved striking power over empty hand impact techniques
3) speed
The use of impact weapons can be used, when appropriate and reasonable to do so, in the following ways:
1) implied force presence: by producing an impact weapon the situation is deescalated to the point where the attacker halts his physical attack
2) mechanical control: here the defender may use an impact weapon to assist in the application of an empty hand compliance technique. Eg the use of a pool cue to apply an arm lock
3) to cause a motor dysfunction: this level of force would be applied to the major muscle masses or pressure points of the limbs and torso. Application of force to these body targets usually result in no long term physical effects other than bruising
4) to break bone or cartilage
5) deadly force: