If someone breaks into your house and you kill them will you go to jail

You may have been told that state law varies significantly when it comes to guns. That is partially true.

Can you shoot an intruder in your home

Gun law, the law that impacts gun possession, does vary enormously from state to state. Things like magazine capacity, possession on school grounds, duty to notify law enforcement, vehicle possession, etc., are all examples of gun laws that are very different from state to state.

However, when it comes to the laws that determine when you can use force to defend yourself or others from a threat, those laws are amazingly similar as they all are based on old English common law.

An in-depth study and research on the topic (resources and sources at the end of this article) help one understand that regardless of the state you are in there are only 4 or 5 legal “elements of self-defense.” Meaning, that regardless of the state you are in, you are legally justified in using force in your defense when 4 things (which we refer to as “elements”) are true.

In a handful of states, there is a 5th element.

So to be clear and to answer the question, “When Can