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Italy enacts self-defence law
Italy has enacted a law authorizing use of arms in self-defense. The news articles don't make clear just how it changes the law. The New Zealand Herald says "The measure was put forward after a series of headline-grabbing cases in which shopkeepers were accused of manslaughter for killing their robbers and applies only if there is a "risk of aggression" for the victim of the break-in and no sign that the intruder is backing down."
[Hat tip to, in order of appearance, Prester Scott, Stacy Lear, Bruce Stern, and Don Kates].
· non-US
Comments
Interesting banque shot from Italy to New Zealand to a blog in the US. Maybe (I hope) self-defense is the new human right for the 21st century, after all?!
Posted by: RKV at January 25, 2006 02:25 PM
In the interest of full disclosure, I got this from the 1/25/06 news digest on KABA.
Posted by: Prester Scott at January 26, 2006 06:43 AM
Sorry I have no citation for this, but I think that previously, Italy's law allowed force to be met only with equal force. So if a large, strong person were to be beating a smaller person with his fists, the smaller person would legally have been allowed to fight back only with their bare hands. Or if someone attacked you with a lug wrench, you would be allowed only to defend yourself with a lug wrench or some similar object.
Posted by: AlanDP at January 28, 2006 08:36 PM