[fastbolt]

A dismaying number of folks like to assume that their feelings will always prevail when it comes to the reasonableness of how fearful they feel about being harmed by someone, and especially their fear of being subjected to serious injury or death at the hands of another.

I agree with the author that it's prudent to consider getting some sort of legal advice, and paying an attorney familiar with the laws in your state is one way to get a legal opinion.

If you anticipate using force against someone, it's prudent to learn about the laws involving the use of force in lawful defense of self (or an innocent 3rd person) and how they're applied.

It's sadly become more common to hear someone claim they were afraid for their life, or in fear of their life. Well, there's an arguable and important difference in what the law may consider a bare fear, versus a reasonable fear. Learning to distinguish the difference may mean the difference between being on the wrong side of the law in some particular situation.

Disparity of force may come into play, but it's probably not wise to assume it's something that can be defined by any particular person however they may wish to define it at the moment.