The Illustrated Guide to Criminal Law
Chapter 15: It Was Either Him or Me
Self-Defense pg 4: Non-Deadly Force
Eddie and Albert galloping through the rocks
EDDIE
Non-deadly force, huh? So how does that work?
ALBERT
You can use non-deadly force if you reasonably believe you need to, to prevent someone from unlawfully taking your stuff right now.
(Not to prevent some hypothetical future theft, or take back stuff that’s already been stolen.)
Eddie and Albert are catching up to Rico in the moonlight
EDDIE
But Rico’s already stolen our steer.
ALBERT
He’s trying to, but we’re in hot pursuit. We’re still trying to prevent the theft.