“The Law Governing the Use of Force in Texas.When Can It Be Used?When Can It Not Be Used?”

Public officials and ordinary citizens in Texas are allowed to use force in many instances. This research paper examines the instances when the use of force is justified by the law and when it is prohibited by the law. For the purpose of this research, the word “actor” identifies the person using the force.
“A person is justified in using force against another when and to the degree he reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the other’s use or attempted use of unlawful force” (Penal Code 9.31). Force may also be used to prevent an attacker from committing aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery (Penal Code 9.32). This justifies the use of force in self-defense. However, force may not be used as a self-defense in the following instances:

1. in response to verbal provocation alone
2. if the actor consented to the exact force us...