To repel an attack in Virginia
Frequently we're asked by lost shield members how much force they can use to repel an attack if someone comes at them In Virginia, you can use reasonable force to repel an attack. Mere words aren't enough. It needs to be a physical attack, and you can use deadly force if there is fear or reasonable fear of imminent bodily injury or death. Virginia is a stand your ground state, and what that means is if you're attacked, you have a right to stand your ground and use force to defend yourself. One major exception for that though is if you have any degree of fault, meaning, if you've started the fight in any way, then you must retreat as far as reasonably possible, and you must express your desire for peace. It must be let it known that you don't want the fight. If you still feel that you have a good faith reason to believe that you're still in danger, then you have a right to continue to defend yourself.
Use of Force
Members will frequently ask us or give us particular scenarios or examples and inquires to when can they use force, whether it be deadly force or just reasonable force to defend themselves. And as you can imagine, there's so many different factual scenarios. One answer doesn't fit everything. However, some of the more common responses or questions that we get with respect to that would be if a road rage situation or if a man versus a woman or a younger man versus an older man, smaller, those types of things. What it all comes back to is that you have to be in fear of the attack. You have to be in fear that your bodily injury is imminent or of death before. You can either use deadly force, but also you need to remember that mere words aren't enough. It has to be more than just a verbal threat before you can use some type of force to defend yourself.
YouTube Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQK1oBofJKo
Credit: Ed Riley, Esq, Riley & Wells
Also read How to Restore Your Second Amendment Rights in Virginia