You can only use proportional force to defend yourself under stand your ground laws. If you stab someone that is only using their body parts then you go to jail. Will a jury convict? It will take a year or two to find out.

[–] ricecake@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 hours ago

Multiple people is significantly more force than even a knife.

Proportional force means the force must be proportional to the threat, not to the force the other person is using. If someone threatens death with their hands, you can use deadly force to defend against a deadly threat.

One would be reasonable in concluding that masked people trying to force you or someone else into a van is an imminent threat of death, great bodily harm or sexual assault.

You can't use deadly force to defend against harassment, or theft because that's disproportionate.

[–] Scott_of_the_Arctic@lemmy.world 5 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

I'm not saying it's legal. I'm saying if someone wearing a balaclava tries to force me into an unmarked van, they're getting stabbed.

[–] FauxPseudo@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

Then you have evaluated the situation and have made an informed decision about the options.

[–] Wizard_Pope@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Well the thing is there are more than 1 of them. Would it not be proportional to stab them if you get ganged on by 4 to 5 of them?

[–] FauxPseudo@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

IANAL

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmings.world 0 points 3 hours ago

That's not true in all states. In Florida, if you feel genuinely threatened, you can respond with deadly force, no matter what the other guy is threatening you with.