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Self-Defense Law Library

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Shut Up, Counselor. Minnesota Law Has Something to Say.

An attorney insisted that calling 911 after a defensive shooting was merely a courtesy. Minnesota law tells a more complicated story. Jeffrey S. Straub examines the duty to render aid and a New Jersey case where a man was acquitted of murder but convicted of endangering an injured victim.

October 31, 2026 · 11 min read

When the Gun Goes Off: Self-Defense or Accident?

A fictional home confrontation and a real Minnesota Supreme Court decision illustrate why intentionally presenting a firearm and accidentally firing it must be analyzed as separate acts, without assuming either act was legally justified.

October 25, 2026 · 8 min read

Six Ways to Turn a Self-Defense Shooting Into a Prosecutor’s Favorite Case

A legally justified shooting can still trigger a criminal investigation. Drawing on attorney Mitch Vilos's Thumbs-Down Factors, Jeffrey S. Straub examines six warning signs that can complicate a self-defense claim, from provoking confrontations to continuing to shoot after the threat ends.

October 23, 2026 · 11 min read

When the Music Stops: Why Self-Defense Begins Before the Attack

A Jack-in-the-Box, the Five Pillars of Self-Defense, and lessons from Cooper, Boyd, Blauer, and Branca reveal why awareness, sound decisions, and avoiding danger may matter long before force becomes necessary.

October 22, 2026 · 17 min read

Minnesota Self-Defense Law

Reading the Statute Is Not the Same as Understanding the Law

A firearms instructor who only quotes Minnesota statutes may be leaving out the most important parts of self-defense law. Court decisions explain what the statutes mean, while jury instructions show how the applicable law is presented to the people deciding a criminal case.

October 21, 2026 · 13 min read

Minnesota Case Analysis and Use-of-Force Law

Minnesota's Castle Doctrine: The Statute Says Felony, but the Courts Ask a Harder Question

Minnesota law permits deadly force to prevent certain felonies in the home, but that does not make every felony a license to kill. Learn how the courts interpret necessity, reasonableness, retreat, and the rights of co-residents.

October 20, 2026 · 9 min read

Minnesota Self-Defense Law

Your Home Is Your Castle, But What Counts as Home Under Minnesota Law?

Minnesota's Castle Doctrine protects the home, but what counts as home? Explore the duty to retreat, defense of dwelling, motorhomes, apartments, vehicles, and temporary accommodations under Minnesota law.

October 19, 2026 · 12 min read