# Does the state have a monopoly on violence?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-state-have-a-monopoly-on-violence/1024175>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [October 21, 2025, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-state-have-a-monopoly-on-violence/1024175 "2025-10-21T21:11:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-state-have-a-monopoly-on-violence/1024175/3 "2025-10-21T21:46:17Z")

</div>

> [@Red button or blue button dilemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-button-or-blue-button-dilemma/1024041/299):
>
> , the state does NOT have a monopoly on legitimate violence. People retain a right to lawful self-defense

Technically that’s an exception. But I would argue how strongly regulated and restricted the right to self defense is an indication of how jealously the state monopoly of violence is protected. You _only_ have the right to protect you and the people around you’s immediately personal safety. If you start using violence like an agent of the state, the state will shut that down sharpish

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-state-have-a-monopoly-on-violence/1024175)._