# Justifiable Homicide: What are the limitations/requirements? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 27, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justifiable-homicide-what-are-the-limitations-requirements/702696 "2014-10-27T23:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justifiable-homicide-what-are-the-limitations-requirements/702696/1 "2014-10-27T23:21:25Z")
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**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justifiable-homicide-what-are-the-limitations-requirements/702696/2 "2014-10-28T00:07:01Z")
Short, short version: You must be in reasonable fear of imminent death or serious bodily injury to you or an innocent third party. In some states you must attempt to retreat from the threat, if practicable, anywhere outside your home. In other states, there is no duty to retreat anywhere you have a lawful right to be. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justifiable-homicide-what-are-the-limitations-requirements/702696/3 "2014-10-28T02:07:41Z")
Not asking that question on the internet a month before the incident happens is also generally considered a good sign. It varies by state, whether you are in your home or not, whether there is an escape route or not, stuff like that. I don’t know the rules beyond those generalities. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justifiable-homicide-what-are-the-limitations-requirements/702696/4 "2014-10-28T02:14:59Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Not asking that question on the internet a month before the incident happens is also generally considered a good sign. That’s the first rule of Justifiable Homicide Club. ---
**Author:** ![RogueAOV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecb155/32.png) [@RogueAOV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueAOV)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justifiable-homicide-what-are-the-limitations-requirements/702696/5 "2014-10-28T18:16:50Z")
You are Not suppose to talk about Justifiable Homicide Club! ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justifiable-homicide-what-are-the-limitations-requirements/702696/6 "2014-10-28T18:23:42Z")
> [@RogueAOV](#): > > You are Not suppose to talk about Justifiable Homicide Club! Reported for talking about Justifiable Homicide Club. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justifiable-homicide-what-are-the-limitations-requirements/702696/7 "2014-10-28T18:30:35Z")
Does the Op mean in terms of Law, or in terms of Ethics? Which are we discussing? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justifiable-homicide-what-are-the-limitations-requirements/702696/8 "2014-10-28T19:52:12Z")
Need answer _really_ fast?