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Self Defense in Wisconsin
Self Defense and Defense of Others. In Wisconsin, a person is privileged to threaten or intentionally use force against another for the purpose of preventing or terminating what the person reasonably believes to be an unlawful interference with his or her person by such other person. The actor may intentionally use only such force or threat thereof as the actor reasonably believes is necessary to prevent or terminate the interference. The actor may not intentionally use force which is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm unless the actor reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself. If the amount of force was inteded to cause death or great bodily harm, the court may not consider whether the actor had an opporunity to flee or retreat before using force and shall prsume the actor reasonably believed that force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself, herself, if the person who the force was used against was already inside, or was breaking into the actor's home/dwelling, motor vehicle, or business and the actor was present inside and knew or reasonably believed the other person was unlawfully and forcibly entering. The presumption of no duty to retreat and reasonable belief does not apply when the actor is engaged in criminal activity or using his house, motor vehicle or business for criminal activity.