REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE (RCW) LEWIS COUNTY

SHERIFF The pertaining to Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Use of Force are outlined in the Revised Code of LEWIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S Washington. OFFICE MISSION STATEMENT A Resource Guide RCW 9.41.070 To make a positive difference for members of for the Concealed Pistol Licenses our community by seeking and finding ways to affirmatively promote, preserve and deliver a RCW 9.41.270 feeling of security, safety and quality service. USE OF DEADLY Open Carry FORCE RCW 9A.16.020 Use of Deadly Force Use of Force – When Lawful The Reasonable Person Standard

RCW 9A.16.030 When determining if an act is a Homicide – When Excusable justifiable or an excusable homicide, the totality of the circumstances are RCW 9A.16.040 reviewed using a “reasonable person –Police Officer standard.”

If the actions are found reasonable, RCW 9A.16.050 SHERIFF STEVE Justifiable Homicide–By Other Person no charges are pursued. If the act is unlawful, or there is ambiguity, MANSFIELD RCW 9A.16.110 charges may be pursued. In cases of “Committed to Make a Defending Against Violent Crime – ambiguity it may be necessary for a Positive Difference” Reimbursement jury of the person’s peers to determine the reasonableness of their actions.

The laws involving firearms and dangerous weapons are covered under E-Mail: Lewis County Sheriff’s Office [email protected] RCW 9.41 and are available online at & Justice Center

345 W. Main Street http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/ Website: For additional information on deadly Chehalis, WA 98532 force, visit us on the web at: www.lewiscountywa.gov/sheriff Phone: 360-748-9286

LAWS THAT ALLOW CITIZENS TO USE FORCE FOR SELF-DEFENSE & DEFENSE OF OTHERS

USE OF FORCE CASTLE DOCTRINE KNOWLEDGE – YOUR MOST

Do you know the laws pertaining to use An American legal doctrine arising from VALUABLE WEAPON of force for self-defense and defense of English designates one’s The Second Amendment to the U.S. others? place of residence (or, in some states, Constitution protects the rights of the any place legally occupied, such as Have you ever thought about being people to keep and bear arms. The laws one’s car or place of work) as a place confronted with making a decision to of the State of Washington define how in which one enjoys protection from use deadly force in defense of yourself one can carry a weapon and legally illegal trespassing and violent attack. It or another person? protect themselves. then goes on to give a person the legal Are you familiar with the laws that right to use deadly force to defend that While the right to keep and bear arms and guide and protect people who must place (his “castle”), and any other the laws pertaining to use of force reside resort to deadly force to protect innocent persons legally inside it, from in separate documents, they are closely themselves or others? violent attack or an intrusion which may intertwined on issues of deadly force. lead to violent attack. In a legal Can you answer the following It is your obligation to act in a responsible context, therefore, use of deadly force questions? manner in exercising your right to keep which actually results in death may be and bear arms, and at the same time defended as justifiable homicide under  What is the “reasonable person” know and understand the laws governing standard? the Castle Doctrine. the use of deadly force.  What can I expect to occur if I use deadly force? Before you decide to arm yourself with a  What determines if I am WASHINGTON DOES NOT HAVE weapon, you should first arm yourself with charged with a crime? A CASTLE DOCTRINE IN THE the most valuable weapon of all –  What if I am charged, but a jury RCW, HOWEVER… finds I acted in self-defense? knowledge. Possessing advance knowledge of the limits of the law, the Washington has no “duty to retreat,” as boundaries of your rights, and the precedent was set in State v. Studd If you don’t know the answers to these capabilities of your weapon will not only (1999) and State v. Reynaldo questions, this pamphlet will serve as enhance your ability to effectively and Redmond (2003) when the court found: a resource guide to steer you to laws safely react during a potential deadly “that there is no duty to retreat when a governing the complex issues involving force encounter, but will also increase person is assaulted in a place where he concealed weapons permits, open your chances of surviving under the most or she has a right to be.” carry and use of deadly force. stressful conditions.