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Course Outline

PC §9.32 covers the use of deadly force to defend yourself.

  • You are justified in using deadly force against another person if you would be justified in using force under §9.31 and you reasonably believe deadly force is immediately necessary to:
    • Protect yourself from another person’s use or attempted use of unlawful deadly force or…
    • Prevent the other person’s imminent commission of aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery.
  • As with the law regarding the use of force, the use of deadly force is presumed to be reasonable if ALL three of these apply.
    1. You believe the other person:
      • Has used force or is attempting to use force to illegally enter your occupied home, occupied vehicle, or occupied place of business or…
      • Is using force or attempting to use force to remove you from your home, vehicle, or place of business or…
      • Is committing or attempting to commit aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery.
    2. You did not provoke the other person.
    3. You were not otherwise engaged in criminal activity, other than a Class C misdemeanor involving a traffic violation.
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