What is a reasonable and proportionate use of force in self-defense?

• A. Any force is permissible if you feel threatened.
• B. Only deadly force is permitted in any confrontation.
• C. The force used must be necessary to stop the threat and proportional to the danger faced, considering the situation and available options.
• D. You must always retreat and avoid using force.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that self-defense force must be both necessary and proportional to the threat you face. In a real moment of danger, you’re expected to use only as much force as needed to stop the threat, and nothing more. That means you evaluate the situation as a reasonable person would: what is happening, how serious the danger is, and what other options you have (such as retreat, de-escalation, or using a lesser level of force). If non-deadly force can safely stop the threat, you don’t escalate to deadly force. Deadly force is reserved for situations where there is a reasonable belief of imminent serious harm or death. Because circumstances can change in an instant, the standard is about what a reasonable person would deem necessary and proportional at that moment, not about using maximum force. This is why the answer stating that the force used must be necessary to stop the threat and proportional to the danger, considering the situation and available options, is the best choice.