Many authors in this field don't pay any attention to the legal ramifications of use-of-force. Ayoob is one of the few that do. He generally seems to fall on one end of the spectrum of those who do. That is, he advises to use as little force as is minimally necessary to resolve the issue. Others teach to use as much force as is maximally allowable or justifiable. Most readers will eventually fall somewhere between the two camps.
In the Gravest Extreme is a good book and you should read it. Be aware that its legal advice is general and may not align detail-by-detail to your jurisdiction. Also be aware that while liability is a real concern, we must not allow liability to cloud our single-minded determination to survive the event.
Some of the book's critics say that the book doesn't distinguish between conceivable and potential legal pitfalls and probable or likely outcomes. That is, the book may warn that you might incur some liability if you do X, Y, or Z but never point out that there's no case history of anyone being held liable for doing those things. Or that the only person who ever was held liable for doing those things also may have been a person who associated with criminals, identified with a group of known or suspected criminals and who lead a high-risk lifestyle.
I've owned three or four copies of In the Gravest Extreme and need to replace it in my current library. I recommend it and will gladly share it with people who I care about but now, I wouldn't provide a copy of this book without also providing Gabe Suarez's The Combative Perspective and Jeff Cooper's Principles Of Personal Defense.
Chuck
In the Gravest Extreme is a good book and you should read it. Be aware that its legal advice is general and may not align detail-by-detail to your jurisdiction. Also be aware that while liability is a real concern, we must not allow liability to cloud our single-minded determination to survive the event.
Some of the book's critics say that the book doesn't distinguish between conceivable and potential legal pitfalls and probable or likely outcomes. That is, the book may warn that you might incur some liability if you do X, Y, or Z but never point out that there's no case history of anyone being held liable for doing those things. Or that the only person who ever was held liable for doing those things also may have been a person who associated with criminals, identified with a group of known or suspected criminals and who lead a high-risk lifestyle.
I've owned three or four copies of In the Gravest Extreme and need to replace it in my current library. I recommend it and will gladly share it with people who I care about but now, I wouldn't provide a copy of this book without also providing Gabe Suarez's The Combative Perspective and Jeff Cooper's Principles Of Personal Defense.
Chuck
