IV – Know

The 5 Elements of Self-Defense Law

Attorney Andrew Branca has distilled the laws in all 50 states that concern themselves with self-defense. He says, “There are at most 5 elements to any self-defense case (and often not even that many). That’s true in every one of the 50 states, and all US territories.” Be sure you adhere to them.

Buy the book The Law of Self Defense, 3rd Edition through this affiliate link with Amazon

The 5 Elements of Self-Defense Law are:

  • Innocence
  • Imminence (ability, opportunity, jeopardy)
  • Proportionality
  • Avoidance
  • Reasonableness (subjective and objective)

3 Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions

We spend an inordinate amount of time, and a tremendous amount of energy, making choices between equally attractive options in everyday situations. How can we handle decisions of all kinds more efficiently? Here are 3 ways:

  • The first method is to use habits as a way to reduce routine decision fatigue.
  • The second method is to use if/then thinking to routinize unpredictable choices.
  • The third method is to use a timer.

Try it now. Pick a decision you have been postponing, give yourself three minutes, and just make it. If you are overwhelmed with too many decisions, take a piece of paper and write a list of the decisions. Give yourself a set amount of time and then, one by one, make the best decision you can make in the moment. Making the decision — any decision — will reduce your anxiety and let you move forward. The best antidote to feeling overwhelmed is forward momentum.

Read this article in full…


Invite SemperVerus to present its 5 life-changing success-generating components—prepare, aware, be, know, do—to your organization to inspire and motivate your members.

Join the SemperVerus Brotherhood™!