We Can Work It Out - Politics & Philosophy | Page 15 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

^ Ah very good, howdy @Starr Test 

I don’t understand @Starr Test’s response at all.

His first example sounds more like two drunks swapping punches to see who can stay standing the longest. That’s not self-defense. If somebody launches an unprovoked assault on you, they don’t throw one punch and then say, “Your turn!” That sounds more like “shenanigans” from the Simpsons.

The idea that, if you’re attacked, and you defend yourself, you shouldn’t be allowed to press charges is ludicrous.

So, you’ve been attacked on your way home by someone out of their mind on drugs who needs money, and though you’ve done your best to defend yourself, you end up being badly beaten and robbed, and the person who has committed this CRIME you should allow to get away with it. Really?

Obviously, if it’s just a heat-of-the-moment thing between friends, maybe… but I’m not sure a falling-out between friends that’s made up the next day is what @HMBeatlesfan has in mind here.

And, the same counts for point two.

Now, I won’t pretend I have not hit a female. My younger sister and I had physical fights during our early years (probably up until around 10).

I was brought up never to hit a woman, and with the exception of Helen, I cannot think another woman I have ever hit. However, were I attacked by a woman, I would have no problem defending myself, including hitting back if necessary.

The same with someone with a disability. Does, as an example, an ex-soldier who’s lost a limb to an IED present a lesser threat to your life than an ex-soldier who hasn’t lost a limb? Both have had the same training to do damage.

And, while obviously you shouldn’t react to young children as you would otherwise, an attack by a 14-year-old 200lb 6ft youth could see you just as badly hurt as attack by someone of any age that size.

And the third just sounds like, again, fighting for fun. “Ooo! I’ve been trying to mug you for ten minutes, but you just keep on trying to stop me. Let’s just shake hands and forget it.”

Self-defense is a necessary evil in some situations. No more force than is necessary should be used. Should that self-defense result in serious injury or death, the justification should open to be examined in a court.

However, the laws which govern a justifiable response need to be strong. America has weak laws on what is self-defense, in my opinion. The murder of Travyon Martin showed that, shot for being African-American in a white area.