• Before you defend yourself, or others, there must be an apparent danger to you or your property, or that of another.
• You can use deadly force only when a life is in danger.
• You cannot use deadly force to defend your property.
• Your retaliation maybe only as sufficient to stop your attacker. If you continue hitting once he/she is down, you become the aggressor.
• You can use force similar to that used by an opponent.
• While you should try to avoid violence whenever possible you do not have to retreat before protecting yourself.
• You may attack in self-defense if an aggressive attack is imminent.
• Words alone do not constitute cause for physical retaliation.
• You may not carry a concealed weapon.
• You may keep a weapon in your home.

Summary:

Generally speaking, the legal concept of self-defense encompasses the principle that a non-aggressor can use a reasonable amount of force to resist what he or she reasonably believes to be an imminent and immediate danger of unlawful force.