Our Right to Self-Defence

David Green, 2 November 2004

It’s well worth taking a look at Libby Purves’ article in today’s Times about our right to tackle burglars without fear that the police will arrest us. Civilisation’s restraint, she says, “is an admirable thing, but not when it diverges too far from basic perceptions of justice.” She mentions the Oklahoma model, not uncommon in America, which allows victims to use “any degree of physical force” including deadly force against burglars, if they reasonably fear for their own safety, “no matter how slight” the risk. We urgently need to reform our own laws, to permit householders to use whatever force is necessary to protect themselves.