When You Can Shoot in Michigan
In Michigan, a person can use deadly force to defend himself or herself if they believe that they are being threatened and are legally allowed to be where they are. This means that you may defend yourself at your home, your business or even walking down the street.
You can use deadly force in self-defense only if you honestly and reasonably believe that it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to yourself or another person. You can also use deadly force in self-defense if you are defending yourself from the imminent unlawful use of deadly force by someone else, like a burglar.
The “Castle Doctrine” and “Stand Your Ground” laws in Michigan provide a legal justification for people to act with deadly force to protect themselves from others on their property, but the law isn’t perfect. There are cases of people who have been convicted of crimes because they used deadly force in self-defense when they did not really need to.
If you’ve been charged with a crime for using deadly force in a self-defense incident, it is important that you have an experienced Michigan Assault Attorney representing you to ensure that you are not convicted of a crime. You need a lawyer who is familiar with the finer details of the state’s assault and self-defense laws to help present your case to the prosecuting attorney in a way that will give you the best chance for a favorable plea deal.
When You Can Shoot In Michigan
One of the most controversial aspects of the state’s gun laws is what it calls the Castle Doctrine. Under this law, you can use deadly force against a would-be intruder who breaks into your home or apartment.
But this is only if you are inside the house when the intruder comes in, and you have no duty to retreat. This is because a person who breaks into a home is not considered to be in the house, so there is no way that you can claim you had a duty to retreat, according to Michael Montague, a defense attorney in Battle Creek.
There are a number of ways that you can defend yourself, including hitting the intruder in the head or body with something such as a golf club or a hammer. You can also use a stun gun or other device to incapacitate the intruder.
You Can’t Arrest for Self-Defense
If you are arrested for a crime because you used deadly force in self-defense, the police officer that arrests you cannot charge you with a crime for that reason. However, you may be charged with a crime for using deadly force if the detective investigating your case finds that you were arrested for a crime, such as second-degree murder or aggravated assault.
You Can’t Shoot if You Are Under the Influence
The law is clear that if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you are not protected by the Stand Your Ground or Castle Doctrine laws in Michigan. This is because you are not in the state of mind that is required to be able to make a good decision on whether or not to shoot a person.
