[Fishing_Cabin]

aaronbagby,

Here is a link with various cases and should help you to understand what is legal, and what is not.

http://www.virginia1774.org/Page5.html

Here is also a PDF from vacdl.org.

http://www.vcdl.org/pdf/Virginia-self-defense-cases.pdf

Originally Posted by vacdl.org link above

Self-defense in Virginia is an affirmative defense, the absence of which is not an element of murder. In making this plea a defendant implicitly admits the killing was intentional and assumes the burden of introducing evidence of justification or excuse that raises a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors...