Virginia Model Jury Instructions – Criminal
CHAPTER 52 DEFENSES—GENERAL

Instruction No. 52.520 Right to Arm

A person who reasonably believes that another intends to attack him for the purpose of killing him or doing him serious bodily harm has a right to arm himself for his own necessary self-protection. In such a case, no inference of malice can be drawn from the fact that he armed himself.

 

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