Legal-RAT (L-RAT): Use of Force and the Law

Legal-RAT covers the law behind every response in the RAT Fighting System, from talking someone down to the use of deadly force. Surviving the attack is only half the fight. You also have to survive what comes after, when your actions are judged by police, prosecutors, and juries who weren’t there. You learn when you can act, how much force is justified, and how to explain your decision afterward. Legal-RAT follows the 90% solution: a small set of clear legal principles you can apply in seconds, under stress, without a law degree.

What You’ll Learn

• Avert or Engage: where force fits among your response options, and why a fight avoided is a fight won.
• Use-of-force options: entering at whatever level the threat justifies, nothing less and nothing more, without climbing a ladder step by step.
• Who judges you: the reasonableness standard for civilians and officers, Graham v. Connor, and your state’s laws on duty to retreat, stand your ground, and castle doctrine.
• Reasonable versus minimal force: why the law asks what the situation required, not the least you could have used.
• Justification of deadly force: when you reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury.
• Assessing the threat with IMOJP: intent, means, opportunity, jeopardy, and preclusion.
• What makes force reasonable: disparity, pre-assault indicators, injuries already sustained, environment, and other factors that support your decision.
• Respond to the threat, not the weapon: pre-justification, and why you don’t wait to see the gun pointed at you.
• After the incident: dealing with police, what to say and what not to say, and getting an attorney.
• Case study: applying IMOJP to a real armed robbery caught on video.

Who Should Attend

Anyone who carries a weapon or might have to defend themselves or others: civilians, concealed carriers, law enforcement and corrections officers, and security professionals. It is also the legal foundation for every Kinetic RAT. This is not a law school lecture. It is about making the right decision fast and being able to defend it afterward.

What to Bring

A notebook and pen. If you know your state’s self-defense laws, bring any questions you have about them.

This course is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult an attorney licensed in your state.