George Zimmerman suing parents of Trayvon Martin among others

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Actually, you do.  If the speaker makes threats and you believe they are able to carry them out, physically defending yourself is permissible under the law.

Boru

Wrong.

There must be immenent threat. Future threat does not meet the threshold.

What legal training do you have in this?

Me - I have been through state mandated training for a concealed carry permit  at least a dozen times. (Only once is required)

Yes, it has to be an imminent threat (left that bit out, sorry).

I have no legal training of any sort, but I have access to an extensive law library and am able to look things up.

Let's take a hypothetical:

Joe approaches Jim and says, 'I have a gun in my pocket.  In five seconds, I'm going to shoot you through the head.' Jim knows that Joe routinely carries a firearm and has found out that Jim is having an affair with Joe's wife.  Rather then wait out the five seconds, Jim charges Joe and beats him bloody.

Is Jim guilty of assault or has he acted in self defense?

Boru