Comments on: Using a sword as a self defense weapon

By: burtlikko

burtlikko — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:40 +0000

In theory, he could do that if the circumstances present a credible threat to the life or safety of your brother or someone else legitimately in the house. Use of deadly force to protect property alone is typically not authorized.

What that means in practical terms is if the burglar is trying to enter his daughter’s bedroom, then, en garde! If the burglar is using both hands to try and haul out the TV, then he’s not much of a threat to anyone and deadly force is not authorized.

But a decorative sword? Yes, a very sharp sword is a pretty good way to kill somebody and back in the day, it was a state-of-the-art tool for self-defense. But a decorative sword these days is likely not going to be kept sharp enough to be a good weapon other than as sort of a thin club. It is also likely to be displayed on a wall-mount or in a display case which will make it inconvenient to accdess. May I recommend a (properly-licensed) handgun instead? I prefer the 9mm variety for balancing lightness and ease of use against stopping power, but to each their own.

By: The Mysterious Way

The Mysterious Way — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:40 +0000

Maybe it is illegal, but you can be damn sure that the burglar invading your property doesn’t give two craps about the legalities of the issue.

En Garde, i say!

By: hopelesssouls

hopelesssouls — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:40 +0000

as long as he doesnt have the sword illegaly hed be fine

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:40 +0000

I am guessing you are in England, where self defence is seen as a murky area of law (especially after Tony Martin was imprisoned for shooting a burglar, though he was eventually released.)

It needn’t be murky. The law says you may defend yourself. You may not deliberately go beyond defending yourself. So, if the burglar is incapacitated when you wield the sword, that should be where you draw the line. If you keep going with the intent to kill him, that is murder. But, bizarrely, the death of the burglar does not necessarily amount to a crime, provided the death was merely an unfortunate consequence of your self defence.

By: Jason O

Jason O — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:40 +0000

You could be he could not claim it as self defense because self defense is defined as using the same amount of force to save yourself so in other words if he has a gun you can use a gun, he has a knife you can us a knife. But in a burglary it is not really considered self defense

By: SAS

SAS — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:40 +0000

He s going down for murder, best of luck!!

By: Ms. X

Ms. X — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:40 +0000

In most U.S. states, a sword is considered a deadly weapon. It’s only legal to use it to defend yourself if your life is in imminent danger.

By: ravanzini

ravanzini — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:40 +0000

That really depends on where you live. Take Texas for example. In Texas, you may shoot, hurt, maim, kill, do whatever to someone if they are even on your property…not even inside the house, just on the property.

Now, in New Jersey, you cannot harm an invader to your home, you must flee the premises.

That’s why I live in Texas. It all depends on what state you live in, and your local laws.

By: jakflak

jakflak — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:40 +0000

Deadly force is deadly force. In my state it would be perfectly legal.

By: MICHAEL P

MICHAEL P — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:40 +0000

In the UK, the important consideration is ‘reasonable force’. Swinging a sabre around and cutting off the guys hand is hardly reasonable. In fact any injury caused by the sword would be considered an offence …. even brandishing the sword could be considered excessive, even in the act of self-defence because essentially a sword is a big knife and therefore an offensive weapon.