“Women must not depend on the protection of a man but must be taught to defend herself.”

This sounds like modern thinking for self-defense, but this quote is from Susan B. Anthony from 1871. Everyone, men and women, have a reasonable expectation of self-defense. Recently, three Niles City Police Officers and two of us Troopers, all from the Niles Law Enforcement Complex, attended instructor training for R.A.D. Systems of Self-Defense.

The Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) System is not for the weak of heart, or the conscientious objector. The system is specifically designed for women who are willing to consider as a viable option — defense — in situations where their life is in jeopardy.

The R.A.D. Systems instructional objective is “To develop and enhance the options of self-defense, so they may become viable considerations to the woman who is attacked.” This is from Lawrence N. Nadeau, who founded R.A.D. Systems in 1989.

This objective is accomplished by first, empowering women; second, creating dependency on self; third, helping them make their own decisions and fourth creating a self-realization of physical power.

The five of us are now making a waiting list for those women, 12 years or older, who are interested in this form of self-defense. We have examples of young girls, girls heading for college, stay-at-home-moms, professionals, even a female in a wheelchair and a young lady of 85 taking these courses.

Our counter-parts in Berrien and Cass Counties and Notre Dame have been teaching these classes but we are hoping to bring this awesomeness to this local area.

If you are interested, please call us at 269-683-1313 (Niles City Police) or 269-683-4411 (MSP) and dispatch will give you the appropriate voicemail to leave your name and phone number. We will call you back.

The Castle Doctrine or Self-Defense Act of 2006 tells us Michigan citizens of times where deadly force may be used. The following is a portion of the law:

A person may use deadly force with no duty to retreat if:

1. They are not engaged in a crime

2. They are in a place they have a legal right to be

3. They honestly and reasonably believe deadly force is necessary

4. The deadly force is used to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault of the person or another

 

A person may use force other than deadly force if:

1. They are not engaged in a crime

2. They are in a place they have a legal right to be

3. They honestly and reasonably believe force is necessary

4. The force is used to prevent imminent unlawful force against the person or another

This continues with a discussion of honest and reasonable belief:

Honest and Reasonable Belief

A rebuttable presumption is created in that a person using force has an honest and reasonable belief that imminent death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault will occur if the person using force honestly and reasonably believes the person against whom force is used is any of the following:

1. In the process of breaking and entering a dwelling or business

2. In the process of committing a home invasion

3. Has committed a breaking and entering or home invasion and is still present in the dwelling or business

4. Is attempting to unlawfully remove a person from a dwelling, business, or vehicle against his or her will

 

The presumption created by the Act does not apply in the following circumstances:

1. The person against whom force was used has a legal right to be in the dwelling, business, or vehicle

2. The person being removed from a dwelling, business, or vehicle is a child in the lawful custody of the person removing the child

3. The person using force is engaged in a crime or using the business, dwelling, or vehicle to further a crime

4. The person against whom force is used is a police officer attempting to enter a dwelling, business, or vehicle in the performance of his or her duties

5. The person against whom force was used has a domestic relationship with the person using force and the person using force has a history of domestic violence as the aggressor.

 

Trooper Rob is the community service trooper for the Michigan State Police. He can be reached at (269) 683-4411 or TrooperRob53@yahoo.com